How hard can you lean into a fish on your gear?

[OldTimer]

As MB says "palming" the spool can help but the key word is "gently".

Also - when possible try to keep the rod tip as elevated as possible - so that the fish is fighting both vertical and horizontal forces.

Another technique that helps tire the fish (once it is closer) is to slightly "bow to the fish" when it initiates a sudden surge. This slight relaxation acts as a shock absorber and adds yet another tiring effect to those of rod spring, line stretch, and drag slippage.

Cheers,

OldTimer