Going to take a half day guide trip on Fork soon. Never have taken a guide trip before. I would have never known to even tip a guide if I did not see it on here.

Only doing half day trip because that is my budget. What determines tip amount? Is it like eating out? Decent service 18%? Number of fish caught? Size of fish? What would you tip if you got skunked or slow day?

Tip what you think if fair for what he provided. Did he go out of his way? Did he do anything spectacular? Only you can make that decision.

I don't think there is a unwritten percentage rule.

If the guide shows up on time and puts in a solid effort (you will know) 18% is about right.

I think the last time this was brought up it went 15 pages. Some people think you shouldnt tip at all since you already paid for his service. Personally, I think it all boiles down to how you felt about the experience. I went with a guide one time and only one fish was caught that day. Weather sucked, and nobody can control that. However, I was 100% satisfied with the trip and tipped him well. He was on time, worked his tail off trying to put us on fish, and I came away learning alot. You dont have to catch alot of fish to make it a sucessful trip.

+1. One of the best guided trips I ever had I think we boated 2 fish all day. But I learned more about understanding electronics than I could have imagined.

Anywhere from 0 to 25 percent depending on the effort from the guide and the quality of the trip.

I agree there is no unwritten rule. If the guide was prepared, on-time, worked hard, taught you something new, and provided a good overall experience, I think 10-15% is reasonable.

well now that the guide has seen this tip him 100% and surprise the heck outta him.

I didn't engage him through the forum so I am in stealth mode.

I asked this question in his best interest though. I am sure he will do a very good job for us. Just want to make sure I treat him right.

I will be a handful asking many, many questions.

Thanks for the input guys. Can't wait!

Never been on a guided trip, but I don't understand the practice of tipping a guide or how this became standard operating procedure. I would think the standard tip would be $0. Feel free to tip what you want, but don't feel obligated.

My thought is that tips are used suppliment the pay for someone while working for a company or business they don't own. I would like to think that $50hr for fishing is more than enough.

I don't tip guides based on fish. I tip based on how happy I was with the day as a whole. I've never been disappointed fishing with a guide so I've always tipped them between $80-100.

You guys who say not to tip a guide should probably not take any guided trips if you don't appreciate the effort involved a little more than that. Anytime I have a positive experience with someone I'm paying to teach me something or entertain me, I tip. Guides work their a$$es off for you to catch fish. Gas costs money. . .boat maintenance, losing lures, abusing their rods and reels, staying out in the elements all day, just for you. They deserve a tip.

Really not trying to stir any pots or take away from what guides do. But if a guide charges 400$-500$ for his services why are u obligated to provide additional money for the services y'all have already agreed on? If a guide wants more money or feels he needs more money just charge more. Guides work hard for their living and I understand that they don't make a ton of money. But I just don't understand tipping someone for completing a job u are already paying them to do. I have been with guides before and have tipped because I felt they deserved some more money. But I see no obligation to tip them even if they do better than u thought they would.

Yea I don't see the point in tipping someone who is naming their own price unless something really out of the ordinary happens. If they want more money they can just charge that amount.

+1

Tipping a guide is a gesture of appreciation for a job well done.

For those of you that fish with guides but know you aren't going to tip, maybe the guides should all get togther and make it a policy to decide what they will charge after the trip.

If you're a PIA to take out ( he picks your back lashes out all day, you stay hung up 75% of the time, you complain about things all day, you whine like a kid and so on and so on..) he will charge say $600 and then of you're a good client and are respectful of him and his equipment he will charge $400.

This sounds unreasonablene and silly, just like saying noway you'll tip a guide...