How much do you tip a guide ?

[JStarbrite]

Although I feel guilty spending $200- $300 for someone to take me fishing, sometimes when fishing unfamiliar water or a different species,it is worth it. I have gotten dirty looks when I neglected to tip, and no one I have asked has given me any guidelines on how much. Anybody??

[Dutchman]

If I paid $200 for a day,I feel that is more than enough!!You could give him a tip by telling him to get a real job!

[trout]

In all fairness do you think spending $30,000
plus on a boat and equipment and spending day in and day out on a boat trying to find fish is easy? Watching people barf and turn green is not work? I think the first mate deserves some show of a job well done.
Ever wonder what the insurance rates must be?
If he has 500 lures on board at 4 bucks each thats $2,000.00.
Most will clean and package your catch too.
I'd give an extra $50.00 for a GREAT day fishing.

[stevebrandle]

Tipping for any kind of personal service has always been around 10-15% "IF" the service is good. It don't matter if it's the waitress serving you breakfast or a guide.

Now, by good service I don't mean he filled everyones limit of whatever you're after. Good service from a charter boat captain can be determined by two simple things; did he give his best effort to hook you up with some fish and did he take care of you personally as a customer.

Steve B.

[Steve]

Let me give you an example of when I would not tip from a true story. I along with some friends hired a charter boat to go fishing on lake Michigan. Once we got on the boat we found that the captains depth finder/GPS was broken. He would have to try to wing it and fish where the other boats were. We fished for a good 6-8 hours with absolutely no hookups. During this time the first mate who was at the wheel was asleep at the wheel for about half the trip. The captain sat in back and did virtually nothing as far a tending the lines and making sure that they hadn't picked up debris etc as we trolled.

It wasn't the fact that the fishing wasn't good, but all the other things above that led to us not tipping.

[JStarbrite]

I feel that the $200- 300 guides charge is justified by the expences he encounters. I also understand that being a guide is like being married to a nymphomaniac- after awhile it becomes a chore. $50 seems fair for a GREAT day fishing, but what if the fishing is not so great. Should I dig for another $20-$30 after a fishless day ? Who is to say why we don't catch fish? It may be lack of expertise on the guides'part or a host of other reasons.

[WEEZER]

I have never been on a guided trip however I am going on a couple this year. One of the trips is a flyfishing trip and I'm going primarily to gain a little more knowledge of a great river and to learn a few more techniques to catch fish. I am prepared to tip my guide very generously if I learn some things. Catching a fish will be a bonus.
Now as for the charter trips: It must be a hard job to keep people on fish every trip!
Your clients expect to have a fish on every ten minutes all day long and If they don't IT's your fault... Come on we are talking about fishing here! Sometimes they just aren't biting!
I always wanted to be a guide someday, Now I personally know three guides and they all said it's not worth it!

[Mike Gwas]

I feel that the Charter service should build the tip into the price. Then there is no expectations of what is good or no good. If the tip is based on the number of fish that are caught it may encourage the Captain to fish hard ?? I have been with a guide (Z-Boat from Wellston) many times always caught fish but that is not my point. His efforts towards catching fish is amazing !!! The guides need to build it in that way there is no disappointment at the end of the day. Remember you do not pay for any service up front !!!