I don't agree that its necessary at all to lean into the rod to set a streamer when trout fishing. I fish size 2 streamers alot and catch quite a few 20 inch plus fish, and nearly every fish hooks itself. The bigger fish hook themselves so hard that the trouble is not setting the hook, but giving enough slack so the leader doesn't break. Most of the fish take the streamer while its either tight on a swing, or being stripped in. There isn't slack line like you'd have dry fly or nymph fishing, so the resistance from the fish sets the hook hard.
Not sure about the trout you're hooking that need a hard hookset, but those in my local rivers feel the hook and take off setting the hook themselves. If I yanked on the rod at the take, the leader or the rod would likely break.
Perhaps its short strikes rather than a weak hookset, or some really dull hooks?