Old Town PDL 120 PRO Fully Loaded - Five Takeaways

Introduction: At this year's ICAST, kayak-related product launches reached an all-time high, with both boat and accessory makers unveiling a wide range of new offerings for this rapidly growing segment. Brands like Old Town focused on rolling out new kayaks and refreshing existing models, placing an emphasis on added features and greater customization. Gone are the days when fishing kayaks were simply paddle- or pedal-powered platforms - the latest generation are fully rigged fishing machines, capable of supporting everything from multiple motors to cutting-edge electronics. Old Town, for example, showcased a fully outfitted version of their new PDL 120 Pro, and after getting hands-on time with the boat, I came away with five takeaways.

There were a lot of fully loaded kayaks at ICAST this year. The Old Town Pro Series updates the popular boat with a bunch of new features

1. Familiar but Better: I'm already a big fan of the original Old Town PDL 120 and it is my personal kayak of choice for fishing on the go. While I love my Hobie PA12 I find it a bit too big and heavy to cartop or put on top of my truck racks on overnight trips. The PDL 120 is small and light enough for me to manage by myself and the new PDL 120 Pro is no different.

The Old Town PDL 120 is my kayak of choice for long range trips as it is easier to car and truck top and I can manage it myself pretty easily

The two new 12-foot Sportsman Line offerings built on this popular platform, the Sportsman PDL 120 PRO and ePDL+ 120 PRO which is powered. Both have a completely redesigned interior, thoughtfully crafted by Old Town's engineers to maximize functionality, offer customization options, provide ample storage, and enhance interior space - all while maintaining the familiar PDL 120 footprint.

ePDL+ 120 PRO layout with the ePDL unit stowed and deployed (bottom)

Though the new boat has the same basic dimensions as the PDL 120 that I am familiar with it feels so much bigger and roomier when sitting inside the boat. The layout felt immediately familiar yet more spacious corner to corner.

The new boat has a lot more rail real estate with extra long rails to mount electronics and accessories

2. Mount Everest: The PDL 120 Pro is clearly designed with more flexibility and additional future configuration in mind and the bow is “motor ready” with a universal bow mount consisting of four hole inserts. There is also a integrated transducer mount that will fit standard fish finders from Hummingbird, Garmin, and others.

Rails in the back! Yes please! These rails behind the seat are a welcome addition and double the amount of accessories that can be mounted on the boat

When it comes to rail mounted accessories there are now longer rails not only in the front of the boat, but also in the rear behind the seat making it possible to mount double the amount of items. The are well reinforced so mounting everything from rod holders to live sonar poles is both safe and easy. One simply cannot have too many mounting points and the new boat takes things to another level.

I've always felt the Old Town PDL 120 was pretty stable and well laid out

3. Made for Anglers: The PDL 120 Pro line also introduces some new features specifically designed to improve the angling experience. I've always found the original boat to be comfortable to operate, and also surprisingly stable considering the boat's short overall length.

The new boat has the same basic external form factor yet has been redesigned to feel much bigger. Even the seating system has been improved

In the new Pro Series the seat has been improved with the position geared towards comfort while pedaling and when fishing in the seated position. The entire cockpit has also been optimized for a wider more stable platform while sitting or standing and casting as well.

Integrated rod holders are a very nice addition for anglers

In terms of storage there are now three flush mounted rod holders and horizontal storage for up to four rods and there is also plenty of storage in the new boat for tackle including dry storage under a large bow hatch and and an oversize stern tankwell.

There are mounting points on front and back for everything from motors to shallow water anchors

4. Less Rig Time: The first thing most anglers do when they get a new kayak is start rigging it, and these days that often means adding electronics and motors - upgrades that usually require more in-hull wiring. Old Town makes this process quicker and cleaner by including pre-drilled, removable panels that simplify cable routing and minimize the need for cutting or drilling into the hull.

Wiring for electronics and motors is also made easier with pre-drilled mounting points and caps

Of course the Old Town's ePDL+ 120 PRO requires the least rigging of motors of all as it already includes the propulsion system. This system simply plugs into the normal pedal drive port and provides the flexibility to offer extra power and assistance when anglers want it with manual pedal, power-assisted pedal, or fully motorized cruise control. This fully featured boat already comes from the factory with internally wired with kill switches, and includes a 36V 20AH lithium-ion battery and charger. Like the PDL PRO this boat is also salt-water ready and can still also be fitted with a front motor if anglers are looking for even power.

The Old Town PDL 120 is already a very good fishing kayak. The new PDL Pro is better in just about every way and though it feels immediately familiar it comes loaded with so many more angler friendly features

5. Old Town Quality, New Style Boat: Kayak fishing is booming, and with the new PDL Pro series, it's clear Old Town chose to refine an already proven platform rather than reinvent it completely - a sensible move given how beloved the original PDL 120 is.

The Old Town PDL Pro rigged and ready

The new PDL Pro keeps the same lightweight, compact footprint, but everything else feels updated, improved, and even more focused on helping anglers customize their rigs. The original PDL 120 was already a very good kayak, and after seeing the new Pro version firsthand, it’s clear this series has all the makings of a great kayak for serious anglers.