My concern is getting dumped and having to spend some time in the water before getting myself back in the kayak.  I don't want to get so cold that I get physically impaired.  I used to practice dumping and re-entry, but it has been a few years.  Getting older, like over 7 decades old, I am not as nimble or strong and have some realistic caution about not responding correctly/quickly/efficiently like I did in my younger age.

I suspected that 7mm would be too restrictive for paddling, and so I guess it is time to bite the bullet and go for a dry suit. 
   Thanks for all of your suggestions, comments, and ideas.  Points are well-taken.
- Tom

Thanks to all for your comments, questions, suggestions.  The detail, experience, and expertise is much appreciated.  And, FishingAddict, thank you for posting the previous blog discussion on this topic.  I was unaware of it.

I have always worn a 3mm farmer john in SF Bay and Pac. Ocean and I have intentionally been in the water to practice re-entries.  However, I want to be warmer and age with declining strength equals longer time in water to re-entry.  My decision is to buy a Kokatat dry suit.

Very nice video, Moo!  I smiled as you paddled and hooked up.  Good vibes!

Late Fall is the season for Brown's.  Caples Lake (Carson Pass), Edison Lake (e. of Fresno) and Lake McCloud (McCloud, Siskiyou Co.) are three lakes with nice Browns.

I fished Lewis Lake (s. Yellowstone NP, WY) in August and had non-stop Brown Trout action.  Most fish were 14-15" and one 19.5" - nice campsites and easy launch at lake. (While there, fish the mornings for easy to catch Yellowstone Lake 19-22" Cutthroats  only ~30min. from Lewis Lake).
- Tom

   What a great event!  Thanks Craig and Linda for putting on a terrific tournament. 
   This was my first ever NCKA event as I have been lurking in the shadows for a few years.   I found the camaraderie to be so friendly and open. . . and the food yesterday (and today) was as good as it gets for taste, quality, quantity, variety, and uniqueness.  Some of the eating highlights were Adam's chips and dip. It was so tasty (better than restaurant quality or Juanita's home kitchen) and the spread had a mild right-side place on the dish increasing to a very spicy section on the left side.  And the gracious Adam was walking around the campground with a bag of chips and his dip and serving everyone, even the passengers of the cars driving through the campground.  Then there was chef Cameron putting together his paella with all the ingredients on separate containers ready to go in just like TV's Amerca's Test Kitchen.  And for all the onlookers Mudshark was pulling out his smoked wild turkey from the Brinkman,  BBQ's chicken appeared out of no where, David was serving a plate of his delicious sirloin steak strips marinated for three days and just pulled off the grill, Freddie's (?) camp brought over a bowl of outstanding spicy Thai (?) sauce and rice to dip,  and I got out some home smoked salmon and Lake Trout. When all was done Cameron brought the paella to the pot luck and I don't think it made to the serving table as everyone was getting scoops as he passed through the eating area on the way to the food table.  Excellent paella.  There was so much delicious food on the table (at the start).  So many good cooks! 
  Back to fishing . . . I stayed on for flat water ocean conditions today.  I had to recover my shattered pride after a dismal tournament.  After fishing from 7 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. I took second to last place - 119th? and not 120th only because I found an unnamed sportsman who claimed not to get a bite and thus bagged 120th (I got 5 or 6 hits.).  Oh, I forgot to whisper . . . we didn't catch one fish . . . sh-h-h-h - you can read that as "keep you voice down" or possibly as "#*%\^".  Today I did manage 6 Rockfish, 2 Lings, and a nice 21" Cab as well as losing a few lings.  (Thanks Hammer, Bird, and David for swimbaits, lead jigs and squid respectively).
And to finish off the day, Freddie and company were serving up fresh uni (sea urchin roe) from a dive a couple hours before.  They had the picnic table spread with urchins when I passed by.  Was there a full limit of 35 urchins (whole and open) (?) piled on the table along with soy sauce and lime wedges and spoons for any who wished to enjoy it.   Wow . . . just like raw oysters.  I'm sold and swore to deplete the West Coast urchin population.  What a way to finish the event.
All in all a great time!
- Tom   

I caught these top-lining from my kayak.  Spring macs are on top early in the morning and late evening when it's cold, and often in mid-day in lousy weather, cold weather.
- Tom

16-7 lbs. and 35" is my best Mac so far.  I'm in the hunt for a 20+ pounder this season.
- Tom

Thanks to all of you for quick, detailed, specific responses.
I appreciate your posted photo examples and comparisons of the various models. 
I don't like the short notice that the battery is about to die.  That would be really frustrating after just heading out and the camera dies after the first or second photo - somewhat like the exasperation of batteries failing in fish finder upon arrival to locale at start of fishing.  Wide angle is important esp. with the comment of handheld close-ups, and I fish late and I know I'll be shooting pics. in darker conditions (taking photos definitely takes a back seat to fishing!).  Maybe "my" ideal camera doesn't exist?  I'll check out the Panasonic and search past posts.  I still feel Olympus is suspect.
Anyone shoot pics. from a vinyl pouch?  What's the quality of the photos?
If you have other ideas or have a new post about this I'd appreciate your comments.
Tom

I really want to take a camera out on my kayak and post photos of my catch and surroundings, but I fear ruining the camera in the water.
Can you recommend a good waterproof camera? 
I read the July 2009 "Consumer Reports" on cameras and they recommend cameras with wide angles (nature and  landscapes) and dim light situations to suit my purposes.  However, they did not have a recommended waterproof camera and the ones they tested (Olympus) were consistently rated poorly over the past years (including now). 
I could put the camera in a waterproof pouch, but the quality of the photos shot through the vinyl would be crap.
Costco has two waterproof Olympus cameras for sale which were not recommended for nature and landscape photos. 
Have you used or seen the quality of photos from these non-CR recommended, waterproof Olympus cameras?  Am I nit-picking? What's the best waterproof camera for kayak fishers?
Tom