I have a Cabela's Tournament ZX flippin' switch baitcaster and the thumb bar doesn't click when I depress it, and it just comes back up. The reel still functions if you hold the bar down, and isn't a big deal since it is my backup. Is this something that I could possibly fix on my own?

One time I saw a couple reels at a garage sale that had a switch that made the reel do this on purpose. Why would that be an advantage?

Sounds to me like your reel is behaving like it's supposed to when the flipping/pitching switch is activated. When you depress the bar, the spool is free to cast. Let it up and the reel is engaged, without having to turn the handle to engage it.

If the flipping switch is engaged it is supposed to do that.

With this particular reel the switch re-engages the spool, so you don't have to turn the handle.

I took my first flipping switch reel on a Canadian smallie frip and had the same issue. When I got back I went into the tackle store and showed the clerk. He said just flip this little switch and it won't do that any more. DUH!

I have a Cabela's Tournament ZX flippin' switch baitcaster and the thumb bar doesn't click when I depress it, and it just comes back up. The reel still functions if you hold the bar down, and isn't a big deal since it is my backup. Is this something that I could possibly fix on my own?

One time I saw a couple reels at a garage sale that had a switch that made the reel do this on purpose. Why would that be an advantage?

The advantage is if you flip to a spot and the fish hit the bait before you could turn the handle on the reel to set the hook you would miss the fish. Flipping switch already engages as soon as you let your thumb off the bar.

I got brave and took the reel apart and found that a spring was mis-shaped, so I tried to bend it and it broke. I located a reel service that does warranty repair for Cabela's reels in Iowa and he said that the spring was the problem. Hopefully I will remember how to put it all back together once I get the replacement.