Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro Review: The Ultimate Fishing Machine

October 26, 2026

By: Melissa Damel, Bill Jackson’s Store Manager

For years, the Old Town Sportsman 120 has been a staple in the kayak fishing world, beloved for its legendary stability and the rock-solid reliability of its pedal drive. But in 2025, Old Town didn’t just “tweak” a classic; they completely re-imagined it. The result is the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro, a tournament-ready vessel designed for the angler who refuses to compromise on performance, comfort, or customization.

Whether you are a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, here is everything you need to know about why this boat is setting a new standard for the industry.

First Impressions: Features and Pro Colorways

Before you even hit the water, the first thing you’ll notice about the PDL 120 Pro is its striking aesthetic. Unlike the standard Sportsman line, the Pro model is available in two exclusive colors that are only found on this variant:

Storm: A rich, deep blue swirled with light grey.
Sierra: A sandy tan swirled with darker grey and black.

These new “Pro” colorways give the boat a premium, sophisticated look that stands out at the boat ramp while maintaining the rugged durability of Old Town’s rotomolded polyethylene construction.

Redesigned Cockpit Ergonomics and Deck Space: Expanded Gunnel Interior & Slide-Shuttle Seating

While the PDL 120 Pro maintains the same 12-foot length and 36-inch width as its predecessor, the deck has been entirely overhauled to maximize usable space. By thinning out the gunnels, Old Town’s engineers managed to significantly expand the interior width. This makes the 12-foot boat feel remarkably similar to a 13- or 14-foot kayak in terms of roominess.

The seating system also received a major upgrade. The new seat is built on an adjustable floor-mounted shuttle, making it easier to slide forward or backward to accommodate different leg lengths even while on the water. Furthermore, the seat’s rear contact point was raised slightly, putting the angler in a more natural pedaling position and making the transition from sitting to standing much smoother.

Customization & Motor-Ready Rigging Capabilities

The “Pro” moniker truly shines when it comes to rigging. Old Town has equipped this boat with over 150 inches of aluminum accessory tracks running from the bow to the stern. This provides a blank canvas for mounting fish finders, camera arms, and additional rod holders without ever needing to drill into the hull.

The 120 Pro is also built to be “motor ready” right out of the box. It features:

Universal Bow Mount: A four-hole insert pattern and wire-rigging plate designed for easy installation of bow-mounted trolling motors like the Minn Kota Kayak Terrova.
Thru-Hull Wiring: Multiple pre-installed ports and conduits throughout the boat allow for clean cable management.
Stern Mounting Points: Two sets of four-bolt inserts at the stern for shallow water anchors or electric motors.

Gear Storage Built for Tournament Anglers: Horizontal Rod Storage & Expanded Hatch Capacity

Tournament anglers often need to carry an arsenal of gear, and the PDL 120 Pro delivers. One of the most praised additions is the horizontal rod storage, featuring four protected slots (two on each side) that allow you to lay rods flat along the deck. This is a gamechanger for navigating under low bridges or through the heavy mangrove cover in the Tampa Bay area.

Additionally, the storage capacities have been massively increased:

Bow Hatch: Expanded by 50% over previous models, making it much easier to store large batteries or bulky gear. It even includes a dedicated mounting spot for a spare PDL prop.
Stern Tankwell: Enlarged by 55%, providing more than enough room for a full-size 16″x16″ gear crate or a large cooler.
Under-Seat Storage: Redesigned to fit full-size tackle trays.

On-the-Water Performance, Stability & Hull Specs

At its core, the PDL 120 Pro relies on the award-winning PDL Drive. Known for its “bike-like” simplicity and instant forward and reverse, this drive is backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty. The drive is saltwater-ready and provides incredible efficiency, allowing anglers to cruise at roughly 3 mph and reach top speeds of up to 5 mph with effort.

The boat utilizes Old Town’s famous Double-U Hull, which prioritizes lateral stability. This design keeps the boat planted even in rolling waves or chop, providing a rock-solid platform for stand-up fishing. While it is a heavy boat, weighing in at 131 lbs. fully rigged, this weight contributes to its durability and confidence-inspiring feel on the water.

Final Verdict

The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro is a meticulously engineered fishing machine. It takes the proven DNA of the Sportsman line and injects it with “Pro” level features that address nearly every request from the angling community. From its exclusive Storm and Sierra colors to its “motor ready” hull and massive storage upgrades, it is built for those who want a premium experience without the need for a trailer.

At approximately $3,700 USD, it is a significant investment, but one that offers the peace of mind of a lifetime hull warranty and a decade of design refinement.

You can buy, inspect, and test drive the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro locally at Bill Jackson’s Shop For Adventure, located in Pinellas Park, FL, serving anglers across the Tampa Bay area.

Ready to see how it handles before making your decision? Stop by the shop, chat with our kayak fishing experts, and take the PDL 120 Pro out for a trial spin right on our very own backyard lake! There’s no better way to feel its incredible stability and smooth pedaling drive than putting it on the water yourself.

Visit Us: Bill Jackson’s Shop For Adventure

9501 U.S. Highway 19 North

Pinellas Park, FL 33782

(727) 576-4169

Frequently Asked Questions About the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro

Q: What is the difference between the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 and the PDL 120 Pro?

A: The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro features an expanded interior deck with thinned gunnels, upgraded floor-mounted sliding seat shuttle, over 150 inches of accessory tracks, pre-drilled thru-hull wiring ports, dedicated bow and stern motor mounting plates, horizontal rod storage, and 50%+ larger storage hatches compared to the standard PDL 120 model. It also comes in exclusive Storm and Sierra colorways.

Q: What is the weight and load capacity of the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro?

A: The hull weighs 106 lbs, and the fully assembled boat (with drive and seat) weighs 131 lbs. It has a total weight capacity rated up to 565 lbs, with a usable capacity of 420 lbs for the angler and gear after accounting for the boat components.

Q: Can you mount a trolling motor or shallow water anchor on the PDL 120 Pro?

A: Yes. The PDL 120 Pro is motor-ready out of the box, featuring a four-hole universal insert pattern at the bow for bow-mount trolling motors (such as the Minn Kota Kayak Terrova), two four-bolt insert patterns at the stern for electric motors or shallow-water anchors (like Power-Pole Micro), and built-in thru-hull wiring routing.

Q: How fast does the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro go, and can it be used in saltwater?

A: The PDL Drive cruises comfortably at 3 mph and can reach top speeds around 5 mph under pedal power. The PDL Drive unit and hardware are 100% saltwater-ready and backed by Old Town’s 5-year drive warranty (with a limited lifetime hull warranty).