tipping guides (how much)

[c17Lat]

Trying to set up a charter trip for 6 on a finger lake for salmon and trout jigging with the possibility of catching bass too. Have never led a group of people on a chartered trip before, so I'm not sure how much to pay for a tip. Can you guys help me out with this. The 5 hour trip will cost $485 total. I'm guessing $50 minimum tip.

[SimonSays]

I can't say first hand...but when my uncle took me fishing awhile back he said to tip just like a restaurant,  15% for a normal trip, 20% for an awesome trip.

[Bassn Blvd]

I would say between $75 - $100, depending on the how hard your guide works to put you on fish. If your guide is good and goes out of his way to help you out then pay him good if you plan on returning someday to fish with him.  He WILL remember your tip and don't be surprised if he puts your name and tip amount in his diary.  If you tip him good, I almost guarantee he will take you places he doesn't take the cheap skate to.

Does the guide own the guide service or is working for someone else?  If he doesn't own the company then chances are that your tip is all he will make from the trip.

I use a guide when I go to the Tortugas and we tip him very good.  Been using him for years and I know for a fact he takes us places that he doesn't take the average customer to.

[c17Lat]

not sure if the guide owns the company.

this trip is actually for a college fishing club. We have some funding from the school for the trip, but I don't think he can expect us to tip him that well since we're just broke college kids, but I think we will give him at least $70 tip. I'd love to hear more input though. It would be great  if our group and the guide mutually enjoy the trip so much that it becomes an annual or bi-annual trip for the guide and the club.

[swilly78]

My cousins and I chartered a boat for salmon out of Lake Michigan, the cost was 600 for a full day.  There was 6 of us, and due to low fish count, the guide, who did owns the service, gave us 6 extra hours to catch a limit.  He felt bad, and wanted us to enjoy our time on the water.  We had 8 ft average swells, and broke two of his deck  chairs.  This guy went above and beyond to give us a good day, and we tipped him 200.  Unusual trip, but at the end of the day, the extra money was well worth it.  I almost feel like we gyped the poor guy.

[SirSnookalot]

For 6 people 15-20 per person should work.  As for as any equipment breakdowns, loss of tackle etc, that's just the cost of doing business.  It's generally figured into the overall price in the first place, common practice in any business.

[George Welcome]

"loss of tackle etc, that's just the cost of doing business" wrong.

"Does the guide own the guide service or is working for someone else?  If he doesn't own the company then chances are that your tip is all he will make from the trip." wrong

"If you tip him good, I almost guarantee he will take you places he doesn't take the cheap skate to." wrong

There is no formula for guide trips. Do what you feel is right!

[roadwarrior]

Normally 15-20%, but zero if you have a very bad experience.

My criteria is putting us on fish and making every effort to find

a way to catch them. An example of a bad experience is paying

for a guide's fishing trip. That has only happened to me twice, but

that is exactly two times too many.

Regarding equipment, YOU are (usually) responsible for

keeping it onboard!

8-)

[SirSnookalot]

Every business agreement is a contract, written or verbal.  Ground rules should be established beforehand, who is responsible for what.

I generally take my own equipment to avoid those kinds of problems and supply my own terminal tackle and lures, guides supply live bait(some charge extra )

I tip a minimum of 20%, as being a business owner myself I'm sympathetic to anyone that puts forth that kind of effort.

[Muddy]

George should know best, as he is a respected and experienced guide.

[J Francho]

I'm guessing $50 minimum tip.

My uncle runs a charter operation on Lake Ontario, and that amount would tell him that you are either cheap, or had a bad day.  Start at 15-20%, and you'll be in the ballpark.

[George Welcome]

Tipping is not requirement for receiving excellent service. However, it is very much appreciated as it is saying to the guide: Good Job and thanks for a great time.

I hear stories from all over about guides that post a tip requirement: not good!

When I hire a guide as a fill-in as a second boat or because I am ill that guide receives full pay. No guide goes out and works for just tips.

When I receive a tip, which is 99% of the time, I immediately buy my wife a candy bar. Most times tips are between 10 and 20%. My largest tip was an all-expense trip to Mexico by one of my regular, (4-5 times a month), customer.

[Btech]

I would say similar to the restaurant .... Do they refill your drinks carry good conversation etc. If he is keeping you happy make him happy when its all over with. Tip = Joy.

[TommyBass]

Ive never taken a guided trip, but if I did I'm sure I would at least tip a little... however tips are a subject that has always irked me a bit.  Most of the normal world does not get "tipped" for doing their job well.  Its what should be expected of you every single time.  If your not doing your best to satisfy the customer each and every trip than  you need another job.  To me, a guide needs to do his best everytime to put you on fish.  Obviously there will be times the fish just arnt doing what they should and you won't catch much, and thats the risk you take in paying for a fishing trip in the first place.  To me it should just be the set price or "all in", both on your side and the guides.  

The only exception to this could be if you know the guide is making hardly anything and most income is due to tips (like some waiters).  

[roadwarrior]

As George noted earlier, all guides are "paid", the tip is a bonus.

8-)

[Pond Hopper]

We went on a guided salmon trip on Lake Michigan after graduating college.  The 5 of us had our share of drinks, and the guide was great, telling us enjoy your time guys, have another beer guys, sit back and relax.  He stayed out an extra 2 hours to get us our limit, and when we tried to tip him he refused, saying I dont take tips from poor college kids.  I think between the 5 of us there have been around 10 trips back on teh same boat, with well deserved tips given every time.

The service, knowledge, and caring tells me what to tip anywhere.

[fourbizz]

I dont tip people just because they did their job.  If they charge $350, that is what they should expect to get paid. That being said, out of the 10ish times I have been with a guide/charter, I have tipped 25-40%, on all but one trip.

Point being, it should not be a given that you will tip. If you tip, you should do it because the guide went out of their way for you to enjoy your trip. The trip I tipped the most for, was the least productive I have been on. But the captain and deck hands, were busting their azzes all day, trying way harder than they needed to to get us on fish.

Sometimes I remind myself of that scene in reservoir dogs... ;D

[fishinfiend]

Fourbizz-- I was think of Mr. Pink before I even got to the bottom of your post  ;D

[dmac14]

I went on a salmon trip on lake Ontario and we were not catching too many fish, with about twenty minutes left in our 6 hours the guide said we can try one more spot. That's when i hooked into the fish you see in my avatar and took me over an hour to reel him in. He loved it and didn't mind that we went over our time slot so I'm sure he got a big tip from my friends dad.

[farmpond1]

I'm fiscally conservative (and I've been accused of being just that) so it's with some hesitation that I say this:  Obligatory tipping?  Since when?  If a guide requires a tip to make his ends meet, he isn't charging enough.  On the other hand if he expects a tip, regardless of the level of his service, it sets a rather bad precedence-for himself and the industry.

Theoretically, a guide can provide a good boat and great equipment and put the clients on fish without making the experience particulary pleasant or memorable.  On the other hand, a really outstanding guide can have less than stellar equipment and have a poor day and still make the clients feel like a million bucks.  IMHO, a tip (if any) is measured against how well the service is provided (both equipment and services) and should not simply be expected or, God forbid, mandatory.

[Bass-1]

I guide for bass fishing in my area, and have guided for about 14 years. I never expect to get a tip, but am very thankful for getting one. Sometimes the tip is for all the hard work put into the trip, other times it's for all the action I was able to put my clients on. I've gotten tips after a bad day due to weather problems, and to those clients I offer some free time on the water if they come back just because they understand I CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER. Some people think because they hired a guide that the fishing is going to be "easy". "THINK AGAIN" So when your thinking on a tip for a guide, just keep these things in mind, and also how well your guide "cater's" to you while on and off the water.