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?

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

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....

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.