Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Photic Camo Review (2026)

Who this kayak fits

The Sportsman PDL 120 is a 12 foot pedal fishing kayak aimed at anglers who want one boat that works across lakes, slow rivers, and calmer coastal water rather than a hull optimized for a single style of fishing. The DoubleU hull is built for a stable, quiet stand-up casting platform, which matters most to anglers who fish from a standing position with fly gear or baitcasting setups. The Photic Camo pattern is a subtler finish meant to draw less attention on clear, shallow water where spooky fish notice movement and color on the surface above them. Anglers who only fish small ponds or need to car-top a kayak solo without help may find the boat's size and weight more than they need, but for an all-around pedal kayak it is a practical middle ground.

Hull, pedal drive, and seating

At 12 feet long, 36 inches wide, and about 116 pounds assembled, the PDL 120 sits in the middle of Old Town's Sportsman pedal lineup, between the shorter PDL 106 and the wider BigWater PDL 132. The DoubleU hull design is meant to glide quietly and hold a stable stand-up platform, and the boat is rotomolded in Maine like the rest of Old Town's watercraft line. The PDL pedal drive is the boat's headline feature, giving hands-free propulsion so anglers can keep both hands on rods and nets while covering water. The seat uses a shuttle-track design with lumbar support that can be adjusted for leg length, and the kayak includes a rudder, rod holders, and accessory tracks as standard equipment rather than optional add-ons.

Capacity and everyday use

Old Town rates the PDL 120 at 500 pounds maximum capacity with 384 pounds of usable capacity once the boat, drive, and standard gear are accounted for, which is enough for most solo anglers running a full tackle setup, a small cooler, and a couple of rods. The pedal drive unit adds real weight to the hull, so loading and unloading the boat solo, especially onto a roof rack, takes more effort than a similar-length paddle kayak. Most owners end up using a kayak cart for the trip from the vehicle to the water rather than carrying the fully rigged boat by hand. Old Town backs the hull with a limited lifetime warranty and covers the PDL Drive separately for 5 years, which is worth checking against the manufacturer's terms before a repair is needed.

How it compares with other pedal kayaks

Against the BKC Brooklyn 12.5, a similar-length pedal kayak with a flipper-style drive and a 550 pound capacity, the PDL 120 costs more but comes from a brand with a longer track record supporting its own drive system and parts. Against the shorter Old Town Sportsman PDL 106, the PDL 120 trades a bit of maneuverability in tight spots for more hull length and glide, which suits anglers who cover more open water. Anglers deciding between models in the Sportsman PDL family should think mainly about hull length relative to where they fish, since the pedal drive and seat carry over across the lineup.

Bottom line

The Sportsman PDL 120 earns its place as a versatile, well-supported pedal fishing kayak, and our score of 9.2 out of 10 reflects how well the hull length, pedal drive, and seat work together for anglers who fish a range of water types. It is a strong pick for someone buying one pedal kayak to cover most of their fishing rather than a boat built for a single niche. Anglers on a tighter budget or who only need a shorter hull for small, tight waters should compare it against the PDL 106 or a lower-cost pedal kayak like the BKC Brooklyn 12.5 first.

Frequently asked questions