A few years ago I remember most guides especially around Fork that had pretty steep price increase due to high gas price, and I understand that, it was almost $4.00 per gallon.

It seem like most rates especially Fork is around $450 per day full day, Seems like it was $275 for full day back before gas price increased.

Has anyone seen guides rate come down since gas has been at such a low rate?

Ah, things that 'go up' usually never come down. Would be nice...
JMO
God Bless
Lee

Has anything else come down since gas is down? Just sayn.

I dont see it coming down but here is a little break down IMO. I figure my time on a trip is worth at least $25 per hour X 8 hrs $200. Then fuel per day just a average lets say $75 that would be truck and boat but some days if fishing is tough then just boat gas can eat that up.

Now at $275 plus Oil $25 gal we will just throw that in for a even $300 now, not that you would use it all in one day but you have to have it. So now we are at $300 the use of my equipment this is boat/rods/reels/line/lures/ice/water all should be worth $200 IMO

Wear and tear on boat should cover that IMO. Then you have insurance on truck/boat/guide Ins,guide license,trailer tags boat tags, boat ramp fees, and lots of other items. With all the above that puts us at $500 per day right there.

Just so many things to consider what a guide has to be ready for and it all cost money. If a customer loses a $10 bait or a $20 bait that is a direct hit to the guide unless it is a sponsor bait.

I know my boat/guide/truck insurance has all gone up in price and that alone would make up for the price of gas dropping.

What has always cracked me up is the same customers who fish most always hunt. They pay twice the amount for a day hunt or guided hunt and never complain about not killing.

You take that same guy fishing and if he dont catch 30 he had a bad experience. Fishing is easy.... catching is hard !

Now all of this is in my opinion and how I see some of the cost issues but not all will see the glass half full or half empty.

None of us guides are getting rich I can assure you.

People pay $1000 to go to a football game or other events where no equipment or expertise is available. Lawyers/Doctors, get my day rate per hour, now there is a issue. IMO

Oilfield workers paycheck.
I am one!

when guide trips were 275.00 Boats were 40k. Power poles were just a dream. and SI was only being used by the Navy.

There are going to be a bunch of good arguments for both sides on this one.

No guides are getting rich. Promis

$50/hr to have a guide show you around isnt bad imo. You just need to take advantage and ask a lot of questions, pick the guides brain so you learn about the lake and why they chose the specific spot.

I still make the same amount every two weeks no matter what the gas prices are.

Do you give more to the church now that you are paying less for fuel?

The guide rates will go down about the same way a plumber will lower his rates. Jack, have you lowered your prices because of lowered fuel costs?

I'm just gonna watch, I will say that I have a bunch of vendors that took increases using fuel prices as excuse. Gonna have a chat with some for sure.

Average 20 days a month of service @ 450+ per day = 9,000 a Month (Some more some less)
Average 8 months a year = 72,000 annually ( Some more some less)
Not a bad living

If the customer is paying less for gas they should now give a bigger Tip

I think the good guides deserve every bit of the $400-450 rates and more. There seems to be more and more guide competition at Fork, so supply is high. I'm not sure where demand is these days, seems OK, but in comparison to past years I don't know.

I think there is some opportunity for some younger new guides with a used boat to offer $250-300 trips, but I've heard the other guides don't like that and come knocking.