I'm cheap, poor, don't keep fish and a cheapskate:) been out with Super Guides and some Terrible ones:( wait what's the Question???

Ed's mostly telling the truth, about what part I'll never say.
He's a big guy and I don't like being pummeled.

Please tip!
I always try to be on time and have the boat clean. If its Friday night I am normally up way past my bedtime cleaning up and making sure all the rods are tied and ready to go. Guiding is hard work.

If your guide works hard and puts you on fish then tip him.

Edit too mod likings

Yes,yes and yes

20% Guides work their _SS OFF!

Fair enough!

I'm with you paddling oars. If they want $480 instead of $400, just ask for it up front.

Paddling Oars: I'm not middle class, I'm 1% and retired at 55. $400 is STILL a lot of money to go fishing for a day. I'll probably do a few trips next year just to learn from great guides but I'm not buying into the 20% tip.

Edit to mods likings.

Obviously I'm a bit biased but here me out....

Most will never realize the effort and HOURS that go into a successful fishing trip until they've been on the guide's end of it.

When a guide puts in even more work and HOURS to make the trip go above and beyond. A tip is always a nice gesture.

As a guide, I could give a minimum payment effort. Spend minimal time out with clients. Fish with minimal effort bait. And go in with minimal effort fish. Just get it done. 10 fish each and head in.

OR as a guide.I could sort thru 1500 shad to get the best sized baits obtainable. Then spend an hour or two trying to get you some big fish. Leave small fish instead of loading up on dinks. Keep you out late if need be. Give you and yours a memorable experience and some quality time out.

Both trips pay the same.

When you get one giving you 110%. Reward it.

You'll quickly become part of his "A-list".

I agree with this. I'm not a cheapo. I've been out with Chuck Rollins twice on crappie trips and I did not tip him-- that was not my way of saying he did a bad job. He is a great guy, great guide, and taught me more about crappie fishing in those 2 days than I would have learned on my own in probably 2 years. And we caught double limits both times out. It was worth every bit of his stated, up front price, and I hope to go with those guys again sometime. In a restaurant, I tip for service but I pay a stated price for the food. In fishing, I pay a stated price for the service itself. Back when I was cutting grass I charged $20-$40 a yard. For that price my job was to cut the yard, clean up the mess, and do it when I said I was going to do it. I never expected to get more than I quoted for a job even if I trimmed a few bushes or hauled off some limbs that weren't part of the deal. Anybody doing a service job should seek to over deliver! And by the way, I highly recommend bigcrappie.com.

I know whose phone calls I wouldn't be answering moving forward.

You sound like my kind of guide,

that is a good way to put it , if your guide gives
110 effort to put you on fish , pay him 110% of his asking rate.
Too bad we can't give those who put out 50% effort , 50% pay.

MO

Did the guide work to make the fishing trip successful, or did he just give you a boat ride & not care if you were catching fish?

I can see tipping a guide on a 'skunked' day when you can tell he is trying his darndest to put you on fish. Contrariwise, I can see not tipping even if you caught some fish if the guide was more concerned about getting his own fishing time in.