The Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120 is one of the most advanced fishing kayaks on the water, but that didn’t stop me from turning it into a fully rigged, fish-slaying machine. Over the past season, I’ve fine-tuned every aspect of my Autopilot to better target Chinook and kokanee here in North Idaho.
Powering The Gadgets
I run a 12V 140Ah LiTime LiFePO₄ battery as my main power source. The Autopilot doesn’t come with a battery, so purchase your own setup. This one gives me more than enough juice for long trips. It handles everything onboard: the iPilot motor, nav lights, floodlights, and deck illumination. I also bring a 100Ah LiTime battery as a backup for long trips. It’s perfect for kayak camping or for running high-draw accessories like floodlights through a bow-mounted SAE port.
Chartplotter and Custom Dashboard
I mounted the Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 63sv to a custom aluminum dashboard I built from a 29″ x 2″ x 3/8″ plate. The dash is painted black and secured with T-bolts directly to the factory track. A 12-inch YakAttack GT90 GearTrac gives me plenty of room to adjust the display for visibility while trolling. The position keeps the screen centered between the rods, making it easier to monitor depth, fish targets, and GPS routes without twisting around.
Managing Rods While Trolling
Rod management was a major priority. I run YakAttack Omega Pro rod holders on 8-inch extensions, with additional 4-inch extensions to get them further outboard. This lets me clear the foot area and keep lines away from the motor and dashboard. The crate setup is a 13×16 BlackPak, loaded with a rotating lineup of Plano Edge 3700 boxes, terminal, crankbait, and more depending on the trip. There’s still room for a rain jacket, first aid kit, or lunch.
Deep Water? No Problem!
When targeting deeper fish like mackinaw or Chinook, I use a Scotty 1050 Depthmaster paired with the Scotty 1026 Swivel Pedestal Mount. It’s compact, has a built-in line counter, and swings in close to the seat for easy access without cutting the boom like some folks do. If it ends up in the way, it’s easy to remove or reposition.
Show Me The Lumens!
For serious night sessions or pitch-black campsites, I mounted one VOSIGLIA LED flood lights to a custom-shaped plastic cutting board attached to the front handle using a T-bolt and the Navarre Kayak mounting system. VOSIGLIA LEDs are waterproof and draw power through a waterproof SAE port, the same one used for my GoPro during the day. The board still allows access to the bow handle for tying off or dragging the kayak. I plan to add a small T-track section so I can swap in other accessories when the floodlights aren’t needed.
Summary
These upgrades have turned the Autopilot 120 into the ultimate all-season fishing platform. It’s self-powered, night-ready, and tailored to the way I fish. Whether I’m trolling deep for Chinook, creeping through shallow bass water, or paddling back under the stars. Every piece of gear was chosen with a reason, tested, and adjusted until it earned its spot.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your own kayak, feel free to reach out or follow along at FishyNW.com for more gear breakdowns, trip reports, and rigging tips.
