Canoe rigged with oar locks and trolling motor bracket.

[fishmagnet75]

I own a 15' Gruman canoe that I take off road/ car top. I've always found trolling motors allow better control no matter the watercraft so I mounted one near where I sit in the rear with me facing the back and able to use oars in tight spots and shallow water. Anyone do this?

[jbmaine]

Radisson and sports pal canoes come set up to be rowed. I rowed mine for years.

[airshot]

Makes a canoe much faster with oars locks.  Many years back some guys at work decided to have a canoe race.  Me by myself against two other guys with paddles.  I rigged my canoe with oars and was much faster than two guys with conventional paddles....

[CastingClinic]

Close to my setup.

 

I fish from a 17' aluminum canoe that I also car top. I sit in the "front" seat facing the back seat so that I am closer to the center of the canoe.  My trolling motor is then mounted about two feet behind me and off the left side.

 

I don't use oars though and simply bring one paddle.  I can comfortably run the trolling motor in <2ft of water if need be and so it ends up doing 95-100% of the work on any given fishing trip.  When I do want to pull up the motor and paddle somewhere its because i need to get through very shallow, matted, tight spots and the paddle is often used as a push pole in these areas.