Reddit mentions of 6 Mechanical Fisher's Yo Yo Fishing Reels -Package 1/2 Dozen- Yoyo Fish Trap -(Flat Trigger Model)

Works like a yo yo. Too bad it's illegal here or I'd try it to see how it works in moving and still water

Edit: 6 Mechanical Fisher's Yo Yo Fishing Reels -Package of 1/2 Dozen- Yoyo Fish Trap -(FLAT TRIGGER MODEL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASP3YZK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_K7SRzbS0ZVRVB

Looks like a YoYo mechanical fisher. I don't know about other states, but in Louisiana we have these fishing rigs called YoYos that you hang in trees and run a baited line into the water. When a fish takes the bait, the YoYo automatically reels it in.

Number 1 - Wear your life jacket/vest/whatever! It does little good if it is not on you.

Get a Sawyer MINI Water Filter. When used in conjunction with a chemical cleaner like iodine or chlorine dioxide tablets it will make your water safe on the move. It will keep you from having to pack a ton of water or boiling a lot every night/morning. It will pay for its self fairly quickly if you were planning on buying water. Not useful for salt water though.

Fishing could be useful if you slow down. Fishing while moving in a strong current is a waste of time. 1 rod per person only. A small basic fishing kit with small jigs for pan fish and maybe larger spinnerbaits or crank baits for larger fish. You should be able to stop and replace things easily enough so keep it small. Another option is a Yoyo Reel (or several). You can place them overnight and have a good fish breakfast in the morning (if you catch a fish). I really wish I had some of these on my canoe trips when I was younger since I only have luck catching fish when I dont need it. I have no idea about fishing coastal waters since I have little experience with it.

Dry Bags that will save your gear and float if you tip over are a must.

A Satellite phone if you can afford one could be your real life saver.

If the river/creek is flooded after heavy of rain. Get out and stay out for a while. There will be a lot more debris than normal and the risk of a puncture or flipping is a lot greater. That is on top of faster/crazy currents.

Carry smaller, useful items on you. Fire starter, knife, signal whistle. It is certainly a possibility you could tip and lose most or all of your gear and you want some basics.

Avoid fog in coastal areas or even around larger rivers. Larger boats will probably never see you or hear you to stop in time especially on the ocean.

Coastal canoeing is a lot different and I have no real experience with it. (if you could not tell) Waves, tides, and wind would make it a lot different.

There really are a hundred possible things to say but just try and use common sense. If it seems dangerous and you dont have to do it.... dont!

That first video seems super specific in its use case. I can't think of any waterways in the Northeast where it'd work.

That second one has promise but seems inferior to just using a net trap in a river.

I also bought mechanical auto fishers.

Their illegal in most states so I haven't tried them (or even taken them out of the package). But they're legal in Louisiana I think. You set them up, bait em, and come back in a few hours or a day. It sets the hook with the spring and holds em in place for ya.

Decent SHTF tool I feel.

But a net and a river is where I'd put my bets over the plastic trap in the second video.

But then, all knowledge is good. So it's at least good info to have, "just in case".

A yoyo, in this context, is an automatic reeler. Youtube has several videos on how to use them, and /r/camping or /r/survival love them too. They're great for throwing out, leaving for a few hours, and coming back to find a few live fish on them. Just make sure to check your yoyos. Forgetting to check them, or worse leaving them out, will piss off every fisherman who uses that body of water.

Also useful for setting up snare traps for small game, if that is legal where you're from.