The numbers
Old Town Sportsman 106 at a glance
Old Town’s paddle fishing boat: wide, high capacity, a seat that rises for sight casting, and the hull that the pedal and motor versions are built on. Heavier than the Pelican, better built.
At a glanceCheapest here $700, most expensive $2,500.
- 440 lb capacity
- Built like the pedal boat
Watch for: 73 lb is a two person carry at a steep put-in.
Check price on Amazon →Typical street price, rounded, October 2026. The live price is on Amazon. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you. The picks are what works on Tennessee water, not what pays most.
Head to head
Old Town Sportsman 106 against its price neighbours
The fishing kayaks just below and just above it in price, spec by spec. Greyed rows are the same on both.
A stable 10-foot sit on top with a raised frame seat and a flat deck you can stand on, at a price that leaves money for a paddle and a life jacket.
Twelve feet tracks better on a lake than the ten footers, the stadium seat is one of the comfortable ones, and it has a transducer scupper and gear tracks ready for a fish finder..
A fast 12-footer with a dry hatch, a tank well and tracks everywhere, and one of the more comfortable seats for a long float.
The cheapest pedal drive worth buying.
Who it fits
Where the Old Town Sportsman 106 fits in Tennessee
Bigger anglers and anyone carrying a cooler and a tackle crate on rivers or lakes.
Pedal drives are the big price jump and the big fishing upgrade. Hands stay on the rod, you hold position in current, and you cover water at Kentucky Lake or Old Hickory that would be a slog with a paddle. They are heavy and they do not love shallow, rocky rivers, where the fin or prop has to come up.
Weight decides whether you use the boat. A 120-pound pedal kayak needs a trailer or a cart and a second person; a 60-pound paddle boat goes on a roof rack. Check the carry-down ramps on this site: many are a walk from the parking lot.
The alternatives
Other fishing kayaks compared
Pelican Catch 110 HDII
A stable 10-foot sit on top with a raised frame seat and a flat deck you can stand on, at a price that leaves money for a paddle and a life jacket. The boat most people buy first for the Duck and the Elk.
- Stable enough to stand
- 62 lb is a one person carry
Watch for: Slow on big open water.
Perception Pescador Pro 12
Twelve feet tracks better on a lake than the ten footers, the stadium seat is one of the comfortable ones, and it has a transducer scupper and gear tracks ready for a fish finder.
- Tracks well for a paddle boat
- Fish finder ready
Watch for: Narrower than the Pelican; less standing room.
Vibe Yellowfin 120
A fast 12-footer with a dry hatch, a tank well and tracks everywhere, and one of the more comfortable seats for a long float. Popular on the Tennessee River and the big lakes for covering water.
- Fast for a fishing kayak
- Lots of rigging options
Watch for: Less stable to stand than the 34-inch boats.
Perception Pescador Pilot 12
The cheapest pedal drive worth buying. A prop drive that lifts for shallow water, a rudder, and a hull that holds position in wind so both hands stay on the rod.
- Pedal drive under $2,000
- Prop lifts for shallows
Watch for: 85 lb; plan on a cart.
Old Town Sportsman PDL 120
The benchmark pedal fishing kayak. Instant reverse, a drive that pulls out in seconds, a 36-inch hull you can stand on in a chop, and a five year drive warranty. It is also the heaviest boat here.
- Most stable boat here
- Reverse without taking hands off the rod
Watch for: 115 lb needs a trailer or a cart and a ramp.
Common questions
Old Town Sportsman 106 questions
Is the Old Town Sportsman 106 worth $1,100?
Old Town’s paddle fishing boat: wide, high capacity, a seat that rises for sight casting, and the hull that the pedal and motor versions are built on. Heavier than the Pelican, better built. Bigger anglers and anyone carrying a cooler and a tackle crate on rivers or lakes.
What is the Old Town Sportsman 106 best for in Tennessee?
Bigger anglers and anyone carrying a cooler and a tackle crate on rivers or lakes. Decide river or lake first.
What are the Old Town Sportsman 106 specs?
Length: 10 ft 6 in; Width: 34.5 in; Weight: 73 lb; Capacity: 440 lb; Propulsion: Paddle; Seat: Frame, two heights.
Old Town Sportsman 106 or Perception Pescador Pro 12?
Perception Pescador Pro 12 is $100 cheaper. Twelve feet tracks better on a lake than the ten footers, the stadium seat is one of the comfortable ones, and it has a transducer scupper and gear tracks ready for a fish finder.. The Old Town Sportsman 106 adds: 440 lb capacity, built like the pedal boat.
Should I spend more on the Vibe Yellowfin 120?
The Vibe Yellowfin 120 costs $100 more. A fast 12-footer with a dry hatch, a tank well and tracks everywhere, and one of the more comfortable seats for a long float. Stay with the Old Town Sportsman 106 unless that is the feature you need.
What is the main drawback of the Old Town Sportsman 106?
73 lb is a two person carry at a steep put-in. Stability and a raised seat are what let you stand to sight-fish smallmouth on the Holston or cast at bedding bass.
Where is the best price?
The Amazon link on this page shows today’s price; the figure here ($1,100) is a typical street price. Bass Pro and the lake marinas carry fishing kayaks too; the county pages list them.
What seat does the Old Town Sportsman 106 have?
Seat: Frame, two heights. Stability and a raised seat are what let you stand to sight-fish smallmouth on the Holston or cast at bedding bass.
Who should skip the Old Town Sportsman 106?
Anyone for whom Perception Pescador Pro 12 already does the job: Lakes and the slower rivers; the right paddle boat for Norris, Center Hill and the Cumberland. Pedal drives are the big price jump and the big fishing upgrade.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. Buying through it pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Keep going
More Tennessee water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.