Gratuity

[JHT]

[size 1]I have recently booked my first guided fishing trip. As I am inexperienced with this, I was wondering what is a "normal" tip for a day fishing? I just want to be fair to the guide. [/size]

Thanks is advance for your replies.
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[BearLakeMack]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Plan on a minimum of 10% if the guide does a good job. If he does a crappy job, and I've been on a couple trips where the guide just sucked, I didn't tip at all. Treat the guide accordingly. A guide that will work his butt off for you deserves a good tip.[/size][/black][/font]
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[fishfinder462]

Why tip? Your already paying them to be your guide........unless you book it through a resort or somthing then the resort gets a cut of the cash.
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[UintaIce]

I've tipped when they tend to go out of their way to make your trip a really good one. And I personally think most guides do. I actually tipped a guide and his 1st mate $100 for going the extra mile in making sure my wife, who is deaf, understood what was going on that she had a great time. Which she did; she outfished us all.
To me it's no different than tipping a waitress, bag boy, or the gal who cuts your hair.
I don't know. Maybe I tip too much.
???
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[FLTFLIPPR]

If youre like me . Take me there,show me what to use,steer the boat, net my fish,feed me lunch,and get the heck out of my way.
Dont tell me how to cast,dont even think about tying my fly on.
IF I want to dry fly Ill dry fly,if I want to stop and wade Ill stop and wade,If I want to go back and fish a run get me back up there,and I WILL GLADLY TIP YOU 15 %. If I find Im smarter than a guide, or a guide didint do a good job, for my 300.00 a day. There will be no tip for him. Generally Ive had good experiences. Hopefully you will get a good guide. Just relax and have a blast.
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[CROSSINEYES]

I ALWAYS TIP 50$ PER DAY PER PERSON. GOOD OR BAD. NEVER HAD A BAD EXP. WHAT DID YOU BOOK. OR WHO DID YOU BOOK WITH?
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[JHT]

We are booked with Conquest Expeditions on Flaming Gorge.
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[CROSSINEYES]

TROLLING OR JIGGING?
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[JHT]

Trolling
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[CROSSINEYES]

COOL! WHEN?
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[JHT]

We are booked for early May.
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[flygoddess]

[black][size 3]Speaking for myself (a guide) the Lodge does pay me and the normal for the client is $50. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I do go out of my way to put a on the clients face and all that intels.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Use my vehicle and gas. Fill the ice chest with what ever is needed (and I do make sure clients drink plenty of water - from bottles not rivers or lakes LOL)[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I supply all flies (out of my pocket, Lodge gives me four if we have them in stock) and I tie them on if the client allowes me to (I have a special way to tie flies on that works for me and generally they like the fact I explain and show them how). Net, and pictures from my camera of either Client holding or myself (if they prefer not to touch)[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Lodge also supply Boots, Waders, Rods, Reels and leaders and tippet are my expense.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I have rowed a drift boat all day with a smashed thumb from the night before. Been sick as a dog and still walked the river with clients finding relief in the trees out of sight.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]So, I feel a $50. tip is good (although I have recieved a very generous more)[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]If (which knock on wood hasn't happened YET) I don't get you into fish, you will enjoy the scenery and good conversation.[cool][/size][/black]
[size 3]By the way, the Lodge treats me good, so I try to do the same.[][/size]
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[trout_slayer]

You should have booked with Capt. Jim Williams and jig for Mack's, what a blast!!! Fishflaminggorge.com is his site. Now about tipping, I am like everyone else, I try to be fair and tip if they do a good job, but the one thing I have found out about guides is that they know where the fish are and they know where the REAL Fish are too. It is kind of a shame that some of these guides will only take you to where the fish are, but if you slip them $100 before hand they will take you where the REAL fish are!!! Just take me where the REAL fish are and I will keep coming back to you and I will give out your name to friends and family to keep your business running good and strong.......understandable??? That is why I will always recommend Capt. Jim for the Gorge!!!
J A K
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[polokid]

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Why tip? Your already paying them to be your guide........unless you book it through a resort or somthing then the resort gets a cut of the cash.[/reply]
[font "Arial"][red][size 3]Are you kidding me? Most guides usually work through an outfitter and get paid a salary or wage. Many outfitters will pay their guides with recognition the guide will make some money in tips. Like a server at a restaurant.
Most people planning a trip will do a good amount of research on what to expect, conditions, accommodations and ect. with their guide or outfitter. I feel it is worth at least 10% of the outting cost if your trip meets your research and expectations. Truth deserves an award?
Now if your trip doesnt meet your expectations due to circumstances beyond the guides control, (weather, closures, ect) If the guide still is able to make my experience successful and fun, I feel that accounts for something extra.
If you find your trip is not what you were told or expected, then I personally would discuss this with the guide or outfitter and work something out. But my tipping will be extremely reduced to non-existant.
But if my experience supercedes my expectations, then a 20%+ tip is not out of question.

When it comes to tipping anyone in any industry(especially guides) It is all determined upon your research and understanding, then your personal experience. I personally feel that you pay for what you get, and if you get more than you expect it is only respectable to reward the person or persons who helped make that possible. If you take the approach of I got lucky or just under estimated, well that is just selfish![/size][/red][/font]
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[CROSSINEYES]

SO AM I. 5TH AND 6TH.
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[JHT]

We are scheduled for the 9th.
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[flygoddess]

[black][size 3]Polokid, very well put.[cool][/size][/black]
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[DonInDenver]

For me it depends on how I feel I have been treated as a client. The guide can't control the weather, the mood of the fish, the water conditions, or whether I can actually catch the fish that he or she puts me on. But he can control the amount of effort he puts into getting me on fish, and the amount of effort he puts into teaching me how to be most effective. If I have a guide who works hard to give me a quality day he gets at least 10%, as a minimum, more if I think he has gone the proverbial extra mile.
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[Saberfish]

[black][size 3]Just my two cents worth, but I feel that there are several things that a client should remember when using a guide. [/size][/black]

[size 3]The guide is providing access, knowledge, and effort, not results. Sometimes the best effort will not produce.[/size]

[size 3]Any gratuity should be based on effort and enjoyment. There are guides,[/size][size 3] who, like some fishing partners[/size] can make a day of fishing a thing to truly remember (fish or no fish).

Guides realize that they are offering a service and that there are gratuities involved. Most will work hard to get them. Guides that don't, do not last long.

I have never worked in any service industry, but I do know that many who do, depend on gratuities to survive.

Leaving a guide, having a good time, and offering a big tip is a good feeling, it's a win/win situation for all. Also, it depends on how hard a guide works, I feel there is a big difference between dragging a lure (trolling) behind a boat, and rowing a drift boat on a river all day.
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[IceFishingGod]

Rob,
That was a well thought out intelligent response. Very accurate may I also add. I'm very proud of you son, you're all growed up now.

I digress.

I spent most of my pre-20's guiding and mating on the East Coast and Great Lakes. I've taken lots of trips since with other guides and Captains. Here is how I base my tip. Did I get what was promised when I booked the trip? If not why? If so, to what level?
Since this is your first trip pretend your in a resturant. Because your steak sucked, was it the waitress' or waiters fault. Did he or she do everything in her power to fix what was wrong? Would you tip him or her?
I've fished with a pretty popular guide here in Utah and got skunked. Was it his fault? For the record it must have been since I NEVER GET SKUNKED. Just kidding. Because I couldn't get a hook in a fish that day was not his fault. He put me on fish, I had hits, but couldn't get a hook in one. I think he did everything he could for me except hook the fish (I actually think he wanted to do that and one point). He got tipped.
What you tip is a matter of personel preference. 10% of the price is a good place to start, adjust up or down from there.
I don't know what Kyle charges for a trip, but I know he comes highly reccomended from at least one respected member of this board. I don't know if he has a mate aboard or not. If he does, then the tip should go to the mate and not the Captain (although if the Captain does a good job there is nothing wrong with slipping him a little something). If he doesn't have a mate then the tip goes to the Captain.
Don't worry about the jigging vs. trolling style, it takes skill to catch Mack's. Trolling or jigging doesn't really matter. The guide still has work to do either way.
I hope you have a great trip, if the tip is the only thing you're worried about, you should have a great time.

IFG

P.S. To Whom iit may concern, if you catch fish with my gear this weekend do I get a tip? You know who you are and I would like beer please. Any kind will work. If you don't catch fish you suck, because I know that gear catches fish, so I still want beer. Bring your map and GPS in Thursday and I'll show you those numbers on the back page.