Canoeing alone in remote areas, you should take more precautions.

It looks like you have a classic canoe with wood gunnels.
Whatever canoe you take to remote or risky areas, should be
outfitted so 1) the canoe cannot sink and 2) all your gear will
stay with the canoe, even in a violent and sustained thrashing.
If you want more detail from me, on this, just say so, but a
good start (or refresher) would be canoe books or canoe forums.

Read (or reread) some books, authored by Cliff Jacobson. Since
you live in canoe country, these should be available in libraries
and used book stores, even if they are out-of-print.

Low water levels can be problematic. With the experience you
have gained, do you think there are some predictors of this?

I am considering a PLB for hiking and I certainly would
get a PLB if I went canoeing again.
Still, the basic gear, boat-outfitting, and precautions are
critical, because you could drown or die of hypothermia long
before a rescue-team was even notified.