Our policy is to give a Customer the BEST trip he/she has ever experienced. We post our rates which are less than some fellow Guides on the Lake, and more than some of the Guides who are offering specials. We believe our rates to be fair to the Customer and to Us and do not expect a tip. If we do receive a tip, it's much appreciated. We give it the same effort whether the Customer is a New, Established, Many Time Repeat, or one we know we'll never see again because they're out of State/Country.

We've just begun our 10th year in the business and our 9th year was our BEST year ever. We conducted 50 more trips than the previous year. We were fortunate and didn't experience the recession on RC. If we hadn't cancelled over 60 trips in March of this year, we'd be on a pace to beat last year. We told folks we didn't want to take them fishing in March due to the fish not biting. (Cold Winter, Cold Water and No Fish till April 1st). Lost a few trips, but it was the right thing to do.

We believe if you treat folks right, catch fish consistently and have lots of FUN, you can grow the business.

I will tell you that after 30 years in the Corporate World, 10 years in the Guide Business, and basically in the workforce my entire life, I do tip. I tip anyone who goes out of their way to make my day better....Waiters and Waitresses, Barbers, Service Folks like Auto Mechanics and Boat Mechanics , and just about anyone who deserves a little recognition. I know how I feel when I get a tip, and I like to make folks feel the same.

Good Luck and Good Fishin'!

Kahuna Why would ya tip a sorry guide explain please? (let me rephrase that had a bad day)If everyone thought like you there would be very few guides, a lot of people save a long time for these trips not many people have more money than brains sorry. Why would ya tip a guide you just paid $400 to catch 10 fish Id really like to know

$425 for a sand-bass/hybrid trip? .. you over paid If you were on a saltwater trip with a deckhand I'm sure you tipped him!
Tip a person for bringing a tray of food that someone else cooked it, is VERY different than tipping a guy who got up way before you and works very hard in some very difficult situations is a different story. NOW - for the guide that does nothing and there are some out there.. you get what you pay for OR do your research and find the good ones before you go! Cheap is not always the best!!!
Tip or not...these guys work very hard to try to provide a day of memories. If they do that then a tip would be nice if not then don't use them again or perhaps give them another chance!
Out!

Gottabefishn if I understand you guides are underpaid, right ? I thought it was part of their job(to get there before I do), my bad. And then ya say $425 overpaid I thought that was about average $300 two people then $75 each after thats $450 for 4 people. Guess times have changed (Im gettin old) thought that was pretty good money for a 4 to 6 hr trip to do something ya love to do

Kinda uppity sounding to me. BS, LOTS of uppity sounding chit! You play golf too?

The last guided trip I went out on Texoma, I tipped the guide $75.00. I have used this guide twice in will do again on my next trip to Texoma. His name is Rex Bridges, top notch, keep me and the wife laughing the whole time. I shocked him when I told him I'm taking my fish home so I can clean them myself. On the first trip I let him filet our catch.


How come I don't get any tip when my customers pick up their vehicle at my shop? Just open myself up!

Kahuna- that's a very rude way to say it.

Everytime i've ever booked a trip with a guide i always bring an extra 100 with me. I don't care how many fish we catch, if he is working to put us on fish he gets the hundred. Guiding is a very hard job to have. Sure it sounds like fun but if you really look at what they do some honestly don't charge enough.

I have never really given it any thought. The only guided trip I ever went on was on Possum Kingdom back in 98'. Captain Steve Barnes was our guide and I was fresh out of high school. The weather was cool, and a storm blew in, I remember us racing across the water to beat it to shore. He put us on fish the whole time and was personable doing it. We all ended up with a limit of stripers and I caught my personal best of 12#. Being as naive as I was at the time I thanked him for the trip and never thought about tipping him. The next time I can make it to Texoma I plan on booking him, and tipping him double his rate regardless of the fishing to make up for the first trip out.

I think y'all spoiled the Guides!!

opus,

the thought crossed my mind to tip the captain's mate then turn around & force feed our captain a Meat Lovers Knuckle Sandwich. but that's not how we handle our problems now is it? believe it or not it had actaully come up in a conversation w/ em that all tips would be split 50/50. i wonder who's idea that was? there was so much else to see & do in maui on our short vacation. i just wanted to get in our jeep, back to the hotel w/ my female & get on w/ the good stuff! if you know what i mean? also i didnt want the captain saying, "he was just mad cause they didnt catch fish" or "he was looking for a reason not to tip" the way he talked it had been a tuff month for them. i wonder why? i really try to choose my battles & it just seemed that leaving $20 & walking was the easiest thing to do at the time. i supose in hind sight, given the same circumstances i could have at least asked for the bosses email & handle it another day. what do you think?

Probly would have made sure the Capt. didnt see me slip deckhand the $20