Tipping a fishing guide

[thinhorn_AK]

How much should you tip a fishing guide? The only guided fishing trips I’ve done have been ocean charters and stuff in Mexico, Hawaii, Belize etc, I’ve never gone on a guided fly fishing trip in the continental USA before.

is it a daily thing? Or is it a percentage of the total cost? I’ve seen places say 20% of the total cost but that seems sort of absurd, I mean what’s a fly fishing guide doing to deserve that much? To keep things rounded, say this trip is 2 people, 2300.00/person, 3 full days of fishing, full lodging etc

In Mexico and Belize I’ve always given them 50/day and they seem very appreciative of it. If I tip them 20% for this trip, that’s nearly a thousand bucks for 3 days of fishing.

I was sort of thinking 100/day per guide (im guessing they will put us together with one guide).

I don’t want to be a cheapskate but this tipping thing has gotten completely out of hand in the USA and 20% seems sort of excessive for guys that are basically getting paid to live the dream while the rest of us save and scrounge to get a taste of it for 3 days.

I suppose if I’m just hammering fish after fish and getting some big ones I might throw them a thousand bucks but it sort of seems crazy to get a thousand dollars for 3 days of fly fishing.

What’s the standard? What should I expect? I’ll also add that when looking back on some of the other guided experiences I’ve had, I’ve tipped when I really shouldn’t have. I don’t see guides as these mythical know it alls that automatically deserve respect and money for simply being a “guide” they aren’t all equal in their abilities or personalities. I gave a 2000 dollar tip on a mule deer hunt a few years ago when I should have told the guy to F off. Why tipnsomebodbwhosebhandbyiubwouldnt even want to shake?

Anyways, looking for advice on this, 3 days fly fishing, 2 people, likely one guide, sticker price of about 5k.

Thanks.

 

[BowBaboon]

5k for 3 days of fishing, even all inclusive, seems like robbery.

Check and make sure gratuity isn't included in that cost.

I guided fly fishing trips for 6 years total. I was pretty happy for $100/day. It depends on how your experience went and how hard the guide tried. Did he break out nice rain jackets for that little sprinkle, or just let you wallow in the cold air? I'm sure you have your own gear, but many don't. Is he tying on new flies pretty regularly and trying to find fish, or just saying "man, this worked yesterday..." and not really trying? I just appreciate having a guide that shows he's actively trying to make it a good day even in garbage conditions.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

5k for 3 days of fishing, even all inclusive, seems like robbery.

Check and make sure gratuity isn't included in that cost.

I guided fly fishing trips for 6 years total. I was pretty happy for $100/day. It depends on how your experience went and how hard the guide tried. Did he break out nice rain jackets for that little sprinkle, or just let you wallow in the cold air? I'm sure you have your own gear, but many don't. Is he tying on new flies pretty regularly and trying to find fish, or just saying "man, this worked yesterday..." and not really trying? I just appreciate having a guide that shows he's actively trying to make it a good day even in garbage conditions.

That’s for 2 people with all food and lodging. I actually found it to be pretty affordable when you start pricing out all inclusive fishing trips. I agree the pricing has gone up and it’s gotten expensive but to put things in perspective, a day of bonefish chasing on Oahu is going to be 6-700/day plus the tip and the only thing included will be a plastic plate lunch form the ABC store that the guy grabbed the night before.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

5k for 3 days of fishing, even all inclusive, seems like robbery.

Check and make sure gratuity isn't included in that cost.

I guided fly fishing trips for 6 years total. I was pretty happy for $100/day. It depends on how your experience went and how hard the guide tried. Did he break out nice rain jackets for that little sprinkle, or just let you wallow in the cold air? I'm sure you have your own gear, but many don't. Is he tying on new flies pretty regularly and trying to find fish, or just saying "man, this worked yesterday..." and not really trying? I just appreciate having a guide that shows he's actively trying to make it a good day even in garbage conditions.

Also great point on guides just sitting there pulling the whole “you should have been here last week” BS….yeah man, well is wasn’t here last week, I’m here now, let’s make something happen…I went on an aoudad hunt a few years ago like that “you should have been here last week”, “what do you mean you don’t want to shoot 800yds” etc etc….

I could drop a big tip to a guy who was cool to be around who is busting his ass to find fish. What I’m completely over is dealing with guides who are just being pricks then feeling like I have to tip them just…because.

I’ve had guide who spent the whole time on their phones texting girlfriends, I even had one on the phone fighting with his ex over their kid while we were driving to a hunting spot. I’ve also had guides who completely just didn’t want to be there and they don’t even try to hide it. One guy was trying to get to some highschool football game and just acting like a prick all week. I’m done tipping for that type of stuff. Again, not all guides were created equal.

 

[BowBaboon]

Also great point on guides just sitting there pulling the whole “you should have been here last week” BS….yeah man, well is wasn’t here last week, I’m here now, let’s make something happen…I went on an aoudad hunt a few years ago like that “you should have been here last week”, “what do you mean you don’t want to shoot 800yds” etc etc….

Yeah I don't think that's a good attitude to have about a trip you're guiding. I was taught to never mention the previous days/weeks/months before that trip. Just let the folks you're guiding have a fantastic day regardless of how many fish hit the net. Making any comparisons is a sure-fire way to demean the group and lower your chance at a solid tip.

I say just base it on the effort the guide puts in, the level and quality of conversation, and not the amount of fish caught.

Where are you going?

 

[finner]

Standard in Montana is 20% for a ~$700 full day. Which is not to say that a guide will be visibly disappointed if you hand him $100. They do have to cover costs like lunch, shuttle, etc. if they're independent operators. And if they're contracted through an outfitter, they're kicking up a significant portion of the trip cost.

All said, if the dude actually puts in the effort, rows hard and gets you on fish I'd go north of $100. If he has you throw an indicator rig all day with a turd and a worm in a train of guide boats, I'd stick with $100.

 

[BowBaboon]

an indicator rig all day with a turd and a worm

This is the rig of my people.