good question, was about to ask the same...taking my first guided trip next week!

If I don't catch a fish in 30 minutes or less, no tip?

to me it's simple...you tip based on what you think you got out of it....I am good friends with some guides and was shocked when they told me 25% to as much as 50% of their clients don't tip anything. I just assumed the first time I went there was a tip involved because it was a service based experience. Long story-short, tip what you are comfortable with and what you can afford. I have always tipped between $50 and $75. Basically the guides I've fished with charge $325 to $350 and I normally just give them $400 plus buy lunch.

I'd say the normal service tip between 10 and 20 percent is a good start. It's not about how many fish you catch but how good a job you think the guide did under the circumstances. If i bring my wife and the guide spends a lot of time helping her out and takes good care of her I'll tip more.

I've also had guides refuse tips on slow days--there are some really dedicated guides out there so take care of them when you find them.

Would the guide rather have no trip booked at all or a trip booked w/a 10% tip. I think some guy's may be scared off from booking a trip thinking they have to tip $50 or $100, it may put it out of reach for them. Guides I have been with deserve it for sure, but I think they would rather have the trip w/a smaller tip then no trip at all. Wish I could tip $100 each time out...

I've never heard a guide complain about not getting a tip...they just answered when I asked about it that many don't tip. They are ALL very thankful to have trips when they get them especially in these times where most of their businesses were down over the last 3-4 years.

None. 400+ plus for a day of "work" is good.

Oh ya lunch is a given

plus 1

minus gas, tackle, boat payment, truck payment, maintenance, insurance... it's not really as good as it sounds.

minus gas, tackle, boat payment, truck payment, maintenance, insurance... it's not really as good as it sounds. [/quote]


you got that right.......your days "off" are spent finding and staying on fish for the next trip and spending whatever it takes to insure your next set of clients has the best time possible.


I have been on many guided trips from fl to tx to va and just about everywhere in between. I always based my tip on what type of person my guide was and not whether we caught a 100 fish. 50-100 bucks was normally what pops and I would give.

i'm a guy in my twenties (barely at this point) who loves to fish, but i have a young family and i'm 2 1/2 yrs out of the military so i'm not that far along financially in my career. last year my mom got a guide trip for my b-day for me. this was my first time with a guide and i had no idea you were supposed to tip. i thought the 350 price that he set was what he charged so that he could pay expenses and make decent money for the day. if it's not thaen these guides aren't very smart, but still thanks to this thread i now feel like a complete jerk. thanks guys.

Weird bill. Ive got the same bills too in order to fish.

I guess this thread will end my thoughts on a taking guided trip.I too am in the "service" industry and I seldom get tips.I don't expect a tip.I have my rates to cover my time and expenses plus a reasonable profit.IMHO You can't compare a fishing guide to a waitress.She is busting her butt to make way less then minimum wage in hopes she gets tips.If the guided trip didn't go real well and we burned a bunch of fuel looking for fish I could see adding more money.But if I am gonna be in "bad form" for not paying more than agreed price...maybe I just stick to TFF in hopes of improving my fishing skills.

I don't think I would tip a guide unless we had an OUSTANDING day. I mean he sets his own price, that price should include EVERYTHING involved plus the profit he deemed as suitable.
If the lawn guy comes by and says I'll mow your lawn for 50 bucks and you agree on that price. Do you then give him $75, buy his lunch and fill his gas cans up?.......I bet you don't