Yes, I seem to have figured out that to make the little bobber--er, VDR go down, all I need to do is lean way over in the canoe to take a leak...

Keep tension on the line? Fat chance--might be easy in a float tube, but on windy days my canoe has three speeds: fast forward, fast reverse, and spin cycle.

Went 0 for 5 on the indicators Saturday, and 5 out of 6 trolling (to 14"). Perhaps I'll stick to nymph/indicator fishing on calmer days...