I bought a canoe for $450 (polyethylene) at Sam's Club a couple years ago and its held up great on the rocks of Colorado and Wyoming. It's a 14'7" and I'm able to handle it by myself. I don't use a trolling motor. When trolling, wind or hand power, I've learned the slower I go, the more hits I get. There have been times with no wind that I do better than the boats with trolling motors. Maybe it's dumb ass luck. You should also look into the motor restrictions on the lakes you want to fish.
Jerry Sorensen Laramie WY
