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IslandBass, thanks for your comments. You didn't confuse me...just helped me appreciate my options. That's helpful to me. I'll look into the round reels and the shimano options.

OHIO, thank you for sharing your insights and suggestions. My understanding of the flipping switch is to make it possible or easier to pull out a predetermined length of line to make it to a target, swing the bait like a pendulum to the target, and have the reel engage immediately...in case the fish were to strike as soon as the bait hit the water. Good point about the types of lures he will use...I will have to raid his tackle box when he isn't looking and find out.

I'm very new to the world of baitcasting reels...and quite overwhelmed at the selection available. My father and brother fish quite a bit, including an annual trip to some big lakes in Canada for lake trout, northern pike, etc. I'd like to get my father a reel as a gift. I'm trying to find one that is smaller in size (as for bass) with both a drag clicker and a flipper. My research suggests the Quantum Accurist AC500CX is probably a pretty good fit. Are there any other baitcasting reels that I should be considering that are comparable to or better than the Accurist?