Before you begin, you’ll want to switch the ends of your canoe around to make the stern (back) the new bow (front) and vice versa. This moves the stern and the place where you’ll be sitting further to the front. This will help to stabilize the canoe when there is less weight inside.
Warning: a sure way to tip a canoe is to sit in the stern with the bow raised out of the water, especially on a windy day. Aside from tipping a canoe on purpose (in canoe classes or for fun as a kid), the editor of this article has tipped only twice. Once was on a large lake in a storm and the other was while trying to paddle solo from the stern in a small creek. It is best to center the weight when solo, if you want to stay dry.