Old Town Sportsman 120 Pro: A First Look

A Unique Testing Experience

When I left behind behind winter in New England to test-fish a new Old Town Kayak at Bienville Outdoors, a private trophy bass lodge in Florida, I never expected to experience snow falling through cypress trees and ice-coated Spanish moss. The once-in-a-lifetime cold front was surreal, but truth be told, the coldwater conditions felt familiar for this Northeast angler.

The good news was the cold temperatures put the swamp’s massive gators in a state of suspended animation. The bad news was, it gave the trophy bass a severe case of lockjaw.

I managed to fool a few chunky Florida bass with a barely-moving Ned Rig fished on a sun-drenched shoreline, but ultimately, the trip was about putting a new kayak through the paces. The fish, along with the frog legs, gator bites, and wild boar chili, were a bonus.

Introducing the Old Town Sportsman 120 Pro

The Old Town Sportsman 120 Pro is a fresh take on the popular Sportsman 120 series. If you’re familiar with the 120, the Pro has the same footprint but with an entirely new deck layout. The new design incorporates the most frequently requested upgrades from Old Town’s pro staff, competitive anglers, and customers. It boasts a larger cockpit, dedicated space for a bow-mounted trolling motor, expanded accessory rails, and more.

Bow and Trolling Motor Compatibility

One of the standout additions is a dedicated mounting area for a bow-mounted trolling motor. This gives anglers the flexibility to combine a pedal drive (either PDL or ePDL) with Minn Kota Spot Lock functionality, which is especially useful in saltwater conditions where anchoring can be a hassle. The bow also features a through-hull wiring port, designed to accommodate modern, heavy-gauge wires cleanly. Whether you’re running Mega Live sonar, a trolling motor cable, or a fishfinder screen cable, the redesigned ports make cable management significantly easier.

Enhanced Accessory Mounting Options

Old Town has revamped the accessory mounting system, integrating a 6-inch aluminum accessory track in the bow. This replaces the previous bow handle while maintaining functionality. The result is a cleaner, more versatile space for mounting GoPros, navigation lights, and other accessories without needing to drill additional holes.

In total, the 120 Pro boasts over 150 inches of aluminum track space across the bow, cockpit, and stern. This setup provides ample room for accessories like rod holders, cup holders, and fishfinder screens—allowing anglers to customize their setup for comfort and efficiency.

Redesigned Hatch and Storage Solutions

Another key improvement is the redesigned bow hatch. The previous oval hatch was effective at keeping water out but was limiting for storage and wiring access. The new design provides a larger opening, making it easier to store modern battery setups or perform internal rigging.

A cool bonus feature is the dedicated storage space for an extra prop under the hatch. If you ever damage a prop on an oyster bed or a rock, you’ll have a spare on hand without it floating around in your kayak.

More Spacious Cockpit and Horizontal Rod Storage

Despite maintaining the same 12-foot length and 36-inch width, the new deck design creates a significantly more spacious cockpit. By transitioning to slimmer accessory tracks, Old Town was able to expand the interior layout, making it feel like a 13- or 14-foot kayak in terms of roominess.

This also allowed for the addition of horizontal rod storage, with four protected rod slots (two on each side). This is a huge advantage for tournament anglers who need quick access to multiple rods, as well as for those navigating under bridges or through heavy cover.

Upgraded Seat System

The seat has been completely redesigned and now mounts directly to the floor on a cradle, rather than on side tracks. This makes installation and removal easier while keeping the seat locked in your preferred leg-length position for consistency.

Another upgrade is the adjusted seating angle, raising the angler slightly for improved comfort. Many customers were previously using aftermarket risers, so Old Town integrated this enhancement directly into the new design.

Expanded Stern Tankwell & Battery Storage

The stern tankwell is now significantly larger, allowing for more storage flexibility. Whether you’re carrying a large tackle crate, cooler, or additional gear, there’s plenty of space.

Recognizing the need for battery storage for those using a bow-mounted trolling motor, Old Town added dedicated aluminum bars in the stern to secure a battery box. This provides better weight distribution and keeps the battery out of the way while maintaining easy access.

A through-hull wiring port in the stern enables clean and simple cable management for those running a trolling motor or other powered accessories.

Shallow Water Anchor Mounts & Versatility

For anglers who use shallow water anchors, the 120 Pro now features dual mounting locations, allowing for single or dual setups. Additionally, the platform is designed to accommodate stern-mounted motors, giving users even more propulsion options.

Introducing the ePDL Drive Option

Another exciting addition to the lineup is the option for an ePDL drive. This model comes equipped with Old Town’s electric pedal drive system, complete with a battery and charger, offering effortless propulsion. Whether you choose the traditional PDL drive or the ePDL, both configurations are available in two exclusive colors—Storm (gray/black) and Sierra (tan/black).

Final Thoughts

The Old Town Sportsman 120 Pro is a major step forward in kayak fishing innovation. By incorporating customer feedback, Old Town has created a versatile, feature-packed kayak that gives anglers more customization, storage, and propulsion options than ever before.

If you want to learn more about this kayak, check out Old Town Watercraft for full specs and details.

Big thanks to Ryan Lilly and the Old Town team for the walkthrough—and for making the most of a historically cold Florida fishing trip!

Source: https://onthewater.com/old-town-sportsman-120-pro-a-first-look

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