The NEW 2025 Old Town ePDL Pro and PDL Pro: New and Exciting Features in these Top-of-the-Line Fishing Kayaks

Kayak anglers rejoice! Old Town has done is again, launching five new kayak models for 2025, each one boasting the new and innovative features and updates that loyalists have come to expect from the leading kayak fishing manufacturer in the US. Whether you’re a long time Old Town fan or brand new to recreational kayaking or kayak fishing, the 2025 lineup has something for everyone. Leading the way for 2025 are two new “Pro” models which are absolutely packed to the proverbial gills with thoughtful features developed by doing something Old Town does extremely well: listening to its customers and responding to their suggestions. Many fans of the previous Sportsman PDL or ePDL models will likely find some of their pondered feature upgrades coming to life on these killer new kayaks. Let’s break it down from bow to stern!

The Bow

Before your eyes can even scan a foot down from the bow of the new Sportsman Pro models, they’ll come across two new features, one of which is a newly designed carrying handle. On previous models, the handle was comfortable and functional, but Old Town has clearly fine-tuned even the simple aspects of this kayak, seeking improvement even where on the surface there might not seem to be much room for growth. On the PDL and ePDL Pro kayaks, you’ll now have 6 inches of carrying handle which is also gear track! You’ll be able to mount GoPro’s right on the bow, a very popular vantage point for content creators and amateur videographers alike. 

The second update in the bow area shows Old Town’s recognition of their customers’ desire to customize their ride with a bow-mounted trolling motor. You’ll now find universal four-hole inserts and thru-hull wiring ports, making an added trolling motor a very realistic option for those who want to mount one with ease. 

One of my favorite updates to the Pro models is a bow hatch which is now twice as large as previous models. This offers multiple advantages, the first of which is obvious: more storage space! Personally, I like to keep rain jackets and pants in my bow hatch where they’re guaranteed to be dry until they’re pulled out in the event of a rainstorm. But gear junkies and customization fans will find that the huge bow hatch now offers much easier access to the interior of the kayak. Running wires will now be much easier, along with maintenance, diagnostics, and troubleshooting coming without a sore back from trying to pretzel your way into a small hatch. 

Let’s pause for a breather here and recognize that we aren’t even onto the deck of the kayak yet and still have an additional new feature to cover! When we said Old Town had packed these Pro models with new features, we meant it! With that in mind, next up is something many anglers shouted from the rooftops to be a new upgrade, and Old Town came through. On both sides of the kayak, there are now two horizontal rod storage points, offering space for a total of four rods to be stored safely inside the gunwales of the kayak and out of harm’s way. The rod tips will be completely inside the hull of the kayak itself, while the length of the rod and the reel will run along with inside of kayak all the way back to the tank well. Combine these four ports with three flush-mount rod holders (including one that’s forward-facing) and you’ve already got tons of rod storage options without even bringing a tackle crate into the conversation. Impressive stuff from the Old Town team.

Next, let’s check out the deck and interior of these sweet rides.

The Drive and the Deck

Before we even get into the new features of the 2025 Pro models, let’s not skip over the fact that the PDL Pro and ePDL Pro both come with Old Town’s incredible PDL drive. The “e” in ePDL of course denoting that with that model you’ll get the ability to switch seamlessly between pedal, pedal-assist, or full power propulsion modes, with literally just the push of a button. Hassle free, saltwater safe, and durable as heck, the PDL drives have been lauded by anglers for years and are now installed in the 2025 Pro models!

The most noteworthy feature defining the interior deck of the 2025 Pro models is that this deck space is huge! This expansion of deck space was made possible by the addition of four 36-inch aluminum gear tracks, two forward and two aft. The rigidity of a metal gear track versus plastic allowed Old Town to narrow the width of the gunwale and expand the deck without sacrificing stability, durability, or overall frame strength of the kayak. It’s a brilliant adaption which improves an already wide-open deck area. Additionally, these aluminum gear tracks ensure that kayak anglers can safely secure camera mounts, rod holders, fish finders, and other accessories without worry. And, with 144 total inches of track mounting space available, you’ll never run out of room!

Moving towards the stern, you’re going to notice that the 2025 Sportsman Pro models boast a completely redesigned and floor-mounted seat shuttle. Adjustable to two different heights, you’ll never struggle to feel comfortable whether you’re out for a quick shakedown cruise or a 9-hour marathon fishing trip. Old Town even adjusted the standard angle at which the seat sits, fixing a noted issue with previously models where kayak anglers felt like they were tilted too far back while pedaling. 

Also noteworthy, the wider deck means that there is still that aforementioned space between the seat and the gunwale. If you’re using the horizontal rod storage, this space will be occupied, but if not, you’ve got a bunch of extra room for tackle trays or other gear right within reach. 

The Stern

As if there weren’t enough upgrades on the 2025 Sportsman Pro models, we’ve got three more in the stern of the kayak, all of which are brand new Pro Model updates. Let’s begin with a theme carrying over from the deck of the kayak – the stern now shares the increased storage space made possible by those 36-inch aluminum gear tracks and their rigidity. A wider stern tank well means more space for tackle crates, bait buckets, coolers and all of the other accoutrement that kayak anglers love to bring aboard. The previous models had storage aplenty, but similar to the bow carrying handle, Old Town clearly went above and beyond to transform already solid features from the original Sportsman PDL and ePDL models. 

Sharp-eyed customers will also notice that the stern storage area now also has an access hatch just in front of the rudder. Drill free access to the interior of the kayak’s stern, paired with that wide-open bow hatch redesign, means customization, wiring, and general access are a breeze. You’ll never have to wonder whether the hassle is worth the addition of a new accessory; with these new hatches, it’s possible!

Lastly, rounding out the new features of the 2025 Sportsman Pro PDL and ePDL are two stern mounting locations. Stern motors and shallow-water anchors can be easily installed using these pre-marked four-hole mounting spaces. It’s fitting that these two stern mount spots are the final feature, as they underscore an exciting truth about the 2025 Sportsman Pro models – whether you want to fish them as is or add your desired customizations, these kayaks are absolutely incredible do-it-all kayak fishing platforms for fresh and saltwater anglers alike.

A Colorful Wrap-Up

You didn’t think we were done yet, did you? No way! As a cherry on top of these insane kayaks, Old Town has released two limited color options. The first is Storm, a mixture of marine blue, black, and greyish white which brings to mind crashing waves and cerulean sunrises. Next up is Sierra, a tan and black combo which looks at home on any body of water. Both colors are only available in the 2025 Sportsman Pro PDL or ePDL models, so choose wisely!

The launch of the 2025 Sportsman Pro models is a testament to the traits which have made Old Town the leader in fishing kayaks. They took great and made it better, took awesome and made it insane. They listened, adjusted, modified, and improved two fishing kayaks which were already highly sought after and loved by kayak anglers from coast to coast. Now, all the work is up to us, the anglers! It’s time to take these kayaks out and break them in the only way we know how – by catching fish!