[pics][Saturday October 7] My SOT Kayak re-entry practice today

First a bit introduction and/or background.

I am in Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.

I started fishing with a Wilderness Systems TARPON 100 (a 10-foot) SOT kayak 4 years ago. This is my 5th season with this kayak. I mainly kayak fish for lake trout and lake whitefish on 100 to 120 feet deep water on a lake here (I  consider this is deep water on a LAKE:-), and when the seasons (per our fishing regulations) for lake trout and whitefish are closed (open Jan 1 to Mar 15 for ice fishing, then open from mid May to Sep 30 for kayak fishing), I mainly fish on the same lake for yellow perch, bass, etc but in shallower water (anywhere from 10 to 45 feet deep).

The first season I got this kayak and in late September (in 2013) I together with a buddy were fishing for salmon on Lake Ontario (not too far from shore) at night time. Then all of a sudden brutal wind and high waves started, so we hurried and paddled back, and in a hurry when I turned sideway looking for my buddy, and before I knew it, I fell into water, and the kayak flipped over, too. I recall I quickly flipped the kayak back, and got back onto the kayak, though I lost quite some stuff (2 sets of rod and reel NEW, box of lures, and both digital camera and cellphone became DEAD,...)

Right after this incident I immediately bought and installed SCOTTY kayak stabilizer/pontoon which I have been using ever since and whenever I am on my kayak

I recently bought a KOKATAT dry top and dry pants

This morning on the above-said lake I tried re-entry after half-a-day fishing:

* Water temperature is around 17C (62F) based on what my fishfinder reads
* water depth is around 10 feet where I tried re-entry
* There was light wind and waves, and it was raining
* I was alone on the water (didn't have anyone nearby, nor did I see anyone in sight on water), over 300 feet from shore/launch. Couldn't get too close to shore (water would be too shallow)
* Since I have the stabilizer/pontoon attached to my kayak, I didn't flip my kayak (which would be hard to do I must say)
* I was first in water testing out my dry top and dry pants. About 4 minutes in water I could feel there is water into my waist area. so I started the re-entry
* Then within 20 seconds and in one thrust I climbed back to my kayak. Easy I must say!:-)
* My GoPro somehow failed to record a video as I thought it should, but I did have a backup digital camera in continuous shooting mode which captured a few shots as seen below
* I had a self-made/DIY stirrup with me but I didn't try it (on the water I just realized the metal clip I used to hook the line to the kayak was not strong enough)

I'm glad your kayak re-entry practice went well.  If you had difficulty climbing back onto your kayak, the pontoons on your kayak would make it easier to use a stirrup to climb back onto the kayak.