Dog,
I have the same boat you have a 17ft willies and have a side pulley system but my anchor bracket is in the middle. I have holes to mount it on the side when using a kicker but it tends to kick the boat to the right when I pull anchor. So when just drifting I mount it in the middle. As far as anchors when I'm fishin good winter spring flows I got a 35lber I use that holds me rock tight. When the rivers are really down I got a 30lber thats now more like a twenty that I use but it tends not to hold as good in the fast water. Hope this helps.

Tight lines

Kevin

SRBC