First Have a look at the Previous City Sportsman PDL 120 Professional

I prefer to kayak fish as a result of I don’t have to fret about engine hassle, a upkeep schedule, or pulling a trailer. Once I need to fish, I throw my yak into the mattress of my truck and go. The kayak at all times floats and my Previous City PDL drive at all times begins. I may entry water boats can’t attain, and in the event you consider fuel, insurance coverage, and upkeep prices, a kayak is means cheaper than even the most effective Fb boat deal. 

I feel most individuals acquired into kayak fishing for related causes. However, over the previous couple of years kayaks started resembling small skiffs. What they gained in functionality they misplaced in affordability, portability, and ease of use. 

This January, I spent a couple of days on the water with the Sportsman PDL Professional, which I feel is the most effective compromise between a micro skiff and a real kayak. What makes this new Previous City so particular is that if you wish to rig it with a trolling motor, a number of fish finders, and a shallow water anchor, you possibly can simply do this. If you wish to hold it a modern and purposeful fishing kayak, it’s prepared for that activity out of the field. 

• Size: 12 ft
• Width: 36 inches
• Weight Capability: 420 kilos
• Boat Weight: 131 kilos 
• 4 36-inch lengthy tracks
• Value: $3,499
• Additionally out there with ePDL+ drive (Value: $5,999 and Weight: 153 kilos)

New Options

I’ve fished out of an Previous City Bigwater PDL for 4 years, and whereas I find it irresistible, there have at all times been a couple of issues I needed have been completely different: The cockpit isn’t very spacious, the strict tankwell is skinny and you may’t match a full-size kayak crate in it, and there isn’t a great way to retailer rods horizontally. These quibbles are fully mounted with the brand new PDL Professional. The engineers thinned out the gunnels, which elevated the cockpit and tankwell area. That additionally created room for 4 horizontal rod tubes. Previous City’s engineers may have stopped with these enhancements and I might have been completely happy, however they have been simply getting began. 

Wiring, Motor Mounts, and Battery Storage 

In case you hate drilling holes in your kayak, you’ll be completely happy to be taught that there are a ton of pre-installed, thru-hull wiring factors. You’ll discover them all through the kayak across the bow hatch, cockpit, and rear tankwell. 

There’s a common trolling motor mount on the bow and two shallow water anchor mounts subsequent to the rudder. So if you wish to run a Spot-Lock trolling motor on the bow or a small motor on the strict, set up will probably be a breeze. 

The entrance hatch was redesigned to higher match giant batteries and Previous City added a battery tie-down level to the rear hatch. 

Tracks

There are 4 36-inch lengthy aluminum tracks on the PDL Professional and one small piece on the bow that doubles as a seize deal with. That ought to be loads of observe so as to add any variety of equipment within the actual positions you need them. 

Learn Subsequent: Finest Kayak Fishing Equipment

Seat

On my previous PDL seat the rear portion sits fairly low. The brand new Professional raised the rear contact level so that you’re sitting in a extra pure place that’s simpler to face up from. Previous City additionally improved the seat adjustment system, and now you can transfer the seat ahead and again with no fuss, even when on the water. 

Fishing on the Previous City Sportsman PDL 120 Professional

Regardless that I used to be fishing one of many premiere bass locations, Bienville Plantation, a chilly entrance timed its arrival completely with mine. It’s not usually that you just’re fishing in Florida and having to interrupt ice off your kayak within the morning. So I used to be at a little bit of a loss on what was going to get bit. I packed the PDL Professional with the kitchen sink, which included eight rods and a BlackPak filled with sort out. That quantity of drugs didn’t cramp the kayak, and I had loads of area within the cockpit. 

The PDL Professional’s hull is identical because the kayak I’ve been utilizing for the final 4 years. So it was very acquainted by way of stability and velocity. I’ve taken my Bigwater PDL in all varieties of situations and thru some severely tough water. It’s been very steady and behaves nicely in present and non-ideal situations. When it’s calm, even my large self (6-feet, 6-inches and 220 kilos) can get up. The rudder system may be very responsive and you may also ratchet up the stress to maintain your self on a heading. The one knock on the Bigwater hull is that it’s not the quickest boat within the fleet, and a slimmer profile would give it a bit extra fuel. 

The PDL drive is virtually indestructible, and I’ve put mine by hell through the years. Hardly ever have I washed it down after a saltwater journey, to not point out the oyster bars it has crashed into. Whereas the PDL drive is dependable and might immediately go in reverse, it’ll additionally get slowed down by grass. Regardless of the chilly climate, Bienville had a good quantity of hydrilla, which predictably clogged up the pedal drive after I bumped into it. Paddling for deeper water and dealing my drive ahead and again often clears the prop. However, generally, I needed to pull up the drive and take away the weeds with my hand. 

What It Does Finest

I recognize that Previous City saved the PDL 120 Professional a real kayak quite than morphing it right into a roto molded micro skiff. The PDL Professional can nonetheless match within the mattress of my truck and is simple for me to launch and cargo myself. 

This can be a nice kayak for somebody who desires to rig a fish finder, trolling motor, or each and do it with none problem. The thru-hull wiring system, mounts, observe system, and battery storage places are well laid out and nicely executed. Add these options to a dependable and steady fishing platform and you’ve got one of many greatest kayaks for fishing in the marketplace.

The place It Can Enhance

I’d like to see the PDL 120 Professional change into lighter. At 131 kilos it’s a hefty kayak if it’s good to drag it throughout sand or get it on high of a automobile. I don’t do seashore launches usually, however I do them usually sufficient that I dread even the quick ones. Any assist I can get to make these cardio exercise simpler can be appreciated.

I can dwell with the value of the usual PDL Professional, however the ePDL+ Professional is an additional $2,500. Regardless that the ePDL+ is unbelievable know-how, its value makes it exhausting to justify. The added expense is identical value as a very good trolling motor. Though, the profit the ePDL+ has over a trolling motor is that it doesn’t weigh that rather more than a typical pedal drive. 

Ultimate Ideas

I hardly ever run a fish finder today since my curiosity is principally shallow water fishing. What I do care about is having a kayak that’s quiet, is simple to place, holds sufficient rods, can get me dwelling if the climate turns, and has a pedal drive that doesn’t break on the first whiff of sand. I get all these issues within the Previous City Sportsman PDL Professional. The brand new enhancements are so good that I’m contemplating buying and selling in my present Bigwater PDL for the brand new Professional model.

If you need a kayak which you could rig with electronics, however doesn’t require a trailer, the brand new Sportsman PDL Professional is a good possibility to contemplate. It even has me interested by including a trolling motor and fish finder, simply because they’re really easy to put in.