I will get in on this. A tip is not required and we as guides all appreciate them very much. It makes us feel like we did a good job even though it is not in our control if the fish bite or not. We are guides not Gods ! All fisherman must crawl before they walk so some are not equal fisherman. Fork makes it very hard on us as guides because of the reputation it has. Here is one thing most people who do not tip or appreciate the guides efforts every think about. Example I had a guy fish with me years ago and we had a bad day my guy caught 7 fish and had one about 7 pounds not a total loss of a day but not a great day over all. We fished hard also. Now this guy had a tournament a few weeks later on a lake in Ark that I have never fished but I knew about the lake and what the structure was like. The day we fished at Fork I showed him a technique I came up with years ago and a the way to fish this bait the day we did not do well. He ask me my opinion on how I would fish the tournament on his lake that I have never been to. I repied I would take what I showed you today and fish it just like we did except around the rock bluffs and you should catch some fish. He calls me two weeks later to tell me he won the tournament and won $5000 dollars doing what we did here at Fork on the same bait and technique. Now my question is who tipped who ? Well worth a $350 day plus a $40 tip or not. He may have won even more money on this technique since then. No one ever thinks about this part. What happens when you leave the boat ? How many fish will our teachings bring to you in the future ? How much money will our teachings put in your pocket ? I always tip what I can afford and by no means are guides getting rich ! Hope this helps open some eyes on this subject.

very well put and very good points, agree with you 100%

Everyone is saying if you catch fish what about NO FISH or maybe just 1 Fish? Do you tip 10$ or 30 or 40 or 50? At a restaurant you tip the waiter to go put the order in and bring the fish to you right? I say tip the guy who teaches you to catch the fish!

These are all very interesting viewpoints.

My opinion had nothing to do with the amount you spend on the service or tip� it was the manner in which it is paid. These are not waiter�s, bartenders, lounge singers or valets�.they are (predominately) self employed individuals. Who are able to set prices based on what they need to survive and what the market will allow.

My last guide trip was in February on Fork. 6:30 am � 5:30 (no lunch) long hard day of fishing for 4 bites. Guide caught 1 fish, friend 1 fish and I caught 2. End of the trip time to pay the man. I didn�t feel he did anything more than what I hired him to do for $400. BUT I understand the probable norm and with his fee of $400 he is counting on a tip and I give him $450. But I leave it with an uneasy feeling�. �did I pay him enough for his service??�. It has the potential to be unfair on both ends. I would never ask for a reduction because there were no fish caught or he didn�t make me laugh all day long and I shouldn�t feel the need to tip because he did his job. I feel the fee should be all inclusive and not based on a warm fuzzy feeling at the end of the trip.

Besides I paid in cash. I am sure he didn�t claim it. Heck that saved him 15.3% of self employment tax plus regular income tax. HA!

I went out with a guide at Lake Fork. The very first place I caught four fish in 5 cast. It slowed down throughout the day, but about one o'clock in the afternoon, my girlfriend who had not caught anything all day, told me that she thought she was hung up. Shortly after, I saw her line running towards the top of the water and the fight was on. I will never forget the expression on her face when she landed that 8 pound bass. At the end of the day, I would say we caught 11 fish which was not a bad day, but I have personally been on the lake and caught 30 during the same time of year.

Anyways, his fees were $350 if I remember right and I tipped him I think $60. I felt that he was very good with being patient with her and made our day. I have fished fork for a about 6 years pretty heavy, but he showed me alot of new areas to try. I wish I could have tipped him more at the time, but I will definitely recommend him and use him again. She had a blast and wants to go back all the time! Oh by the way the guides name was James Williams. Give him a try!

im with u

This subject has been discussed and discussed many times over the years, Do a Search and you can read all you want about this subject........

I'm guessing most of the Guides are going to be professional and leave this one to their customers or have a great answer that puts it back on their customers .

I know I went on a guided trip before and left a $100 Tip. Mainly because that was all I could afford for a tip. The guided definately deserved more. We caught alot of great fish and this was in Red Willow Nebraska. Best guided trip I ever had. Even the guide said he had never saw that many fish over 5lbs caught in one day.

If ya rich enuff to shell out those big bucks to be squired around in uhh fancy boat to ketch fish......then ya rich enough to throw down a few dollars for uhh tip.

Case closed.

yep, ain't nuthin like fresh succulent bass filet's

A tip is given as an act of generosity and appreciation of services received.The practice of tipping becomes common in industries where the public SEES FIRSTHAND the work and effort another person puts into their job, which is a service to them. It is then given based on a perception that the service employee is underpaid for his work. It is a decision only you yourself can make.
If you feel it...give it. If you don't feel it...don't give it.

Take care of your guides and your guides will take good care of you. IMHO I like to think that tipping, buying lunch and generally being a decent human being with them gets you moved up the list when it comes to booking future good dates, maybe getting a tip or 2 when you are fishing without them, they may keep you out a little longer when the bite is on etc. You plan on fishing with a guy once and feel cheap by all means the daily rate is all either signed up for. I feel I got lucky and found a great guide on fork right off the bat, so I have no experiance with bad ones. I heard him field a call once and the guy wanted him to guarantee wieght. I am sure they put up with all kinds as they never know what will show up at the ramp. I had some damage done to my house last year. Carpenter rushed out to fix got it done quick. I thought the bill was to cheap and gave him an extra $100. He appreciated it and I have a carpenter when I need one. We always expect people to go the extra mile when working for us, nothing wrong with throwning a bone or 2.

Thats funny! BTW you have to much time on your hands

I fished today with a repeat customer and his friend. He fished 1 day last year. I'm not sure about if he tipped last year and it doesn't matter. He booked 2 days this year. Today, we started about 7am, didn't break for lunch, ended about 5:30, 1 of them caught 9 and missed at least 6 (jump offs and 2 big fish break off - we saw 'em), the other caught 7 with a few jump/pull offs. So thats 10.5 hours of straight fishing, 16 fish to the boat. Both caught their biggest fish ever, with the biggest 8.0 lbs 23.25" with a 16" girth. We had a great time catching as well as seeing fish all day that we tried to catch. Furthermore, they can't wait to get to their home lakes to try the techniques in sight fishing, casting/pitching/flipping, and presentation they learned.

Do you think I got a tip? Nope I didn't. Again, it doesn't matter. He did say he was going to be back next year for sure. That in itself made my day. I'm fishing them again tomorrow just as hard - maybe he'll schedule 4 days next year and tell all his friends.

I've also had very tough days on the lake as we all do, felt I didn't do a good job, they gave me folded up cash (which I never count 'til I'm home), and find a 100.00 tip. They called the next week and booked another trip. Go figure... Maybe it isn't always about that big fish with some folks. On the other hand, I had a client tell me at the start of the day he'd give a $50 tip per pound on his biggest fish over 6 lbs. It was during the spawn, he caught a 10+ fish sight fishing at the end of the day, bought my dinner, and handed me a $200 check even after I said I wasn't going or wanted to hold him to his words.

The example of what we make per year was way off without really understanding the expenses involved. Also, just because a tip is cash one shouldn't assume we don't claim it on our tax returns.

Anyway, tips are not required, I never expect one, it is always welcome - no matter how the day turned out.