Simple lever physics or if you like �Archimedes and the law of the lever� dictates that the distance multiplied by the weight on one side of the pivot or fulcrum is equal to the distance multiplied by the weight on the other side. So if one has a 10 foot fishing rod and is wearing a gimbal pad the fulcrum would be your grip on the rod at about 2 � to 3ft. from the butt. If you have a preset drag on your reel of 20lbs this would create an up lift at the butt of between 46.6 and 60lbs, and a fulcrum load of 66.6lbs to 80lbs. Some of the fulcrum load could be offset or redistributed with the use of a harness that attaches to the reel, but this will shift the pivot increasing the uplift at the butt. It is to the fishermen�s advantage to use as short of rod as possible if a long and heavy drag battle is anticipated. It truly amazes me to hear of sustained fish battles with 40lbs of drag�Lawton

Huh?

My brain hurts....just fish!

Make sure your Hematron is adjusted and calibrated also.

Now where did I put that flux capacitor?

Long rods give the advantage of leverage to the fish, because the fulcrum isn't centered and you're on the short side of the lever.

I've drank way too much to understand that...

By that logic you shouldn't use a rod at all.

Put your beers down Gents & consider the following: as I ramble on a little...
If your going to consider the entire weight & size of the fish on the line, to the tip end of the tail and it's variable ability to change course, in all directions, applying more and less tork and force applied, plus it's weight during the fight, then so goes the angler's entire weight & size and his variable abilty to change the angle of his position, posture and force applied(standing, sliding, sinking in the mud or in his beach chair) plus his weight, him & the rod as one, to compensate during the fight. Well, if the rod is anchored in the gimbal pad, the applied grip(fulcrum)on the rod and so anchored to the angler, then isn't it correct to consider the rod, now extends down to his heels, thus giving a higher advantage, of weight & distance to fulcrum, to the angler?
Note: Did not say overwhelming advantage, O.K.. Ha!

I witnessed a fellow fisherman's rod yanked right out of the rocks and into the channel at SWP last weekend!!! Yikes!!!

Drag... "Righty tighty, lefty loosey"

you've got way too much time on your hands. lol!

use a telescopic rod.

http://www.amazon.com/Plusinno-Telescopic-Retractable-Saltwater-Spinning/dp/B00YBV7WV4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436985846&sr=8-2&keywords=telescopic+fishing+rods&refinements=p_72%3A2661618011

extend to cast, retract for maximum leverage to fight fish.

No, the fulcrum is wherever one decides to hold the rod. If one weighs 180 pounds, and the rod end is in a gimble belt, that's just 180 pounds on your side of the see-saw. Very basically, anything pulling down the other side of the see-saw weighing say 250 pounds, you would be picked up off your feet if not for drag and the flexibility of the rod.

Yep. The OP has it right. A long rod is used to generate speed for a longer cast, while a short rod offers the angler more leverage. This is why the newer jigging style rods are so powerful...the characteristic "c" shaped bend they form when under a heavy lifting(fighting) load effectively shortens the rod and offers more leverage to the angler.