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Posts: 11
| If guide has his own business does he figure tip in the fee or does he expect the fee to be added to with a tip? |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | He expects an extra tip for sure. Base it on the quality of your experience. |
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Posts: 618
Location: Bloomington, MN | Give him a minimum of 30% even if you netted 3 fish for him!
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I had folks tip me nicely, and had some not tip at all regardless of fishing success. I set my fee at what I needed to make for the business plan to work, and always looked at tips as a welcome blessing. |
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Posts: 196
| How much do you tip when you go out to a nice restaurant for dinner and have an excellent meal?
Personally, I tip at least 20% |
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Posts: 51
| I personally always tip on my lake Ontario Salmon trips... |
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Posts: 144
| Kirby Budrow - 6/17/2020 7:53 PM
He expects an extra tip for sure. Base it on the quality of your experience.
The expectation of a tip is something I don't understand. You earn it, you don't expect it. I have been on three musky guide trips in my life, all in different states, all different people. Didn't see a fish all 3 times. One of them clued us in to the whole "tipping protocol" 20 minutes into our trip, and consequently, he was the only one who didn't get tipped. I wouldn't tip unless I feel like they earned it. |
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Posts: 166
Location: Cedarburg, WI. | If they fish they don't get a tip from me. Getting paid $300+ to do something they would otherwise be doing i feel is enough.
Side question.. Do a lot of guides fish along side clients? I have only hired 3 and 1 fished up front with me. I thought it was weird. |
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Posts: 8782
| I guess I'm the guide-client-aficionado here...
I've taken hundreds of guide trips with countless guides.
It's not "expected", but a tip is customary, IMO. I've given good tips ($100) to guides after fishless days, because in my opinion, they went far above and beyond what you'd typically expect out of a guide date. This could be staying out an hour longer because fish were moving, changing lakes during the day when it was clear our time could be better spent elsewhere, going out of their way to spend time showing me the lake, tips, tactics, etc.
I've also foregone a tip when I felt like the guide was simply fishing with me along for the ride in exchange for $350.
Should the guide fish? It's a LOT easier to establish a pattern with more than one lure in the water. If said guide raises or catches a fish and says "hey, throw a _____" because he is seeing action, all the better, I've had guides who stopped fishing because we had 3 in the boat and we were covering everything. If they are fishing from the back of the boat, though, who cares?? Any fish they contact, you already missed. One instance in particular our guide stuck a 53.5"er throwing a cast straight behind the boat parallel to the structure we had just fished. No way either of us would have ever seen or caught that fish. We were 50 feet ahead of where that fish hit. Had another instance where my wife and I both basically missed casting at the spot on the spot. (I know the spot, we blew it) He raised a four footer when he casted at it and didn't miss.
That? Well... I said: "#*#*! I missed that by a mile..." Turned to my wife and said "See that little shelf sticking out just to the right of the tree? Hit that, I ****ed it up!" She too missed by a mile.
In that case? Well, if I were guiding, I'd have turned the boat around and given us another shot.
On the other side of that, I've had guides come back on a fish and flat out say "hey, that's your fish. You raised it earlier. I'm not gonna cast. YOU catch it. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I caught that fish!"
I've had others cast ahead of me at #*#* I was about to hit. There goes your tip dude...
I've had some who just fished, didn't pay attention to anything I was doing, didn't explain the structure, the spot, nothing. There goes your tip dude.
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Posts: 8
| pete619 - 6/18/2020 5:17 PM]
The expectation of a tip is something I don't understand. You earn it, you don't expect it. I have been on three musky guide trips in my life, all in different states, all different people. Didn't see a fish all 3 times. One of them clued us in to the whole "tipping protocol" 20 minutes into our trip, and consequently, he was the only one who didn't get tipped. I wouldn't tip unless I feel like they earned it.
Agreed. Hired the same guide twice in one season. When I first started muskie fishing. Went above and beyond to teach me the basics and the understanding of bite windows, when to go check on a prior moved fish, how to improve my figure 8s, crash course in muskie fishing basically, stuff I still use to this day. He got tipped both times. Great guy, still remembers me.
As to a guide fishing with me, I like it. He has his boat setup so that he can fish and run the trolling motor in the back while I fished the front. I think it would be weird if he were to just run the boat. He would stop fishing in prime spots or within a window. Also didn’t fish very hard when he was fishing.
First trip, I moved a fish on the first spot within the first 5 casts, while we were talking to each other, well I wasn’t paying attention, so I pulled up early and a hot fish turned away. He took the blame on himself and took it pretty hard. |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | pete619 - 6/18/2020 5:17 PM
Kirby Budrow - 6/17/2020 7:53 PM
He expects an extra tip for sure. Base it on the quality of your experience.
The expectation of a tip is something I don't understand. You earn it, you don't expect it. I have been on three musky guide trips in my life, all in different states, all different people. Didn't see a fish all 3 times. One of them clued us in to the whole "tipping protocol" 20 minutes into our trip, and consequently, he was the only one who didn't get tipped. I wouldn't tip unless I feel like they earned it.
If it’s a bad trip, I agree it doesn’t deserve a tip. Sometimes it’s not the guides fault though. Use your judgement. |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | Slopski - 6/18/2020 5:35 PM
If they fish they don't get a tip from me. Getting paid $300+ to do something they would otherwise be doing i feel is enough.
Side question.. Do a lot of guides fish along side clients? I have only hired 3 and 1 fished up front with me. I thought it was weird.
When I used to guide I felt out the clients to see whether or not they wanted me to fish. Most of the time I didn’t but sometimes I had just one person in the boat, so I did fish then. I see a lot of videos these days where the guide fishes from the back of the boat and is catching fish. I think that’s bad. I felt terrible if I caught one, so I avoided it. Give your client every chance to catch the fish, even if it means going through the spot again, like another post said. Sloppy seconds or thirds are not ok. Not doing your job as a guide then. Having someone pay you to net your fish is messed up. |
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Posts: 1516
| Where are you finding guides for $300 or $350 a day? |
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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | I’ve been on 39 guided musky trips all across North America, and the guide fished along side me on everyone. It’s only a plus in my mind if they catch the fish, proves what we are doing is working. And the more baits in the water the better for finding a pattern... I’ve only had 1 trip that I didn’t tip, the “guide” didn’t have a clue what he was doing. Otherwise I’ve had really great luck with informative guides, who work hard. One in particular we fished for 16 hours because the bite was tough, and he wanted us to get a fish.
Edited by WiscoMusky 6/18/2020 10:37 PM
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Posts: 1516
| Agree with what Steve said about tipping the guide |
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Posts: 358
| I'd say it depends on if your expectations were met.
I've done a few trips on new water where hiring a guide to shorten the learning curve and get a feel for the system is priority #1, actually catching a fish really matters little to me, and I would prefer the guide to fish. If we just fish all the stuff marked out in the fishing hotspots book, yeah probably not a big tip coming. |
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Posts: 93
| To answer the OP from my opinion, even though a guide is self employed I would assume they are working towards a tip, just as if they had an employer, unless they "advertised" their price includes gratuity.
From Wikipedia: Tips and their amount are a matter of social custom and etiquette, and the custom varies between countries and between settings. In some places tipping is not expected and may be discouraged or considered insulting, while in other places tipping is expected from customers. The customary amount of a tip can be a specific range of monetary amounts or a certain percentage of the bill based on the perceived quality of the service given.
I don't think tips are discouraged or insulting to anyone in North America.
I have hunted and fished with a few guides and the norm when I was in charge of tip amount is 25%. Honestly, it is probably derived from an round number standpoint more than anything.
When I first started fishing Musky with a guide I felt that the "first one to a cast a spot gets the best chance of catching a fish". I know feel I want as many presentations in the water as can be thrown as these fish can be finicky.
If alone with a guide I definitely want him throwing something too.
The 2 things I appreciate most about a guide is what they are willing to teach you about the species you are chasing, such as seasonal habits and small tips or techniques that seem to get lost in translation with many conversations. Also if they are a good conservationist.
The absence of fish in the boat has no bearing if the circumstances make sense.
It would be different if the guide is a "slug". |
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Posts: 769
Location: Ames, Iowa | I had a guide in 2001. I was hoping to get what I was doing validated by him. He said I was doing everything right and it just a matter of time on the water. He fished with me and I watched and learned. He caught one and I had no problem with that. I paid him $250 without a tip. And that was only because I never considered a tip to the business owner, I was too immersed in fishing to think about it. |
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Posts: 72
| This has always been a question my group has battled. I think it all comes down to the service provided. As someone pointed out already, it seems everyone is a guide these days. Catch one musky...you now qualify as a guide.
I recently looked for guides in the Green Bay area. I saw some of the old, established guys that have been around for a long time, but I also came across some guys I never heard of. One of them was charging almost four figures for a full day trip. I was just shocked. This is someone that wasn't even around several years ago. I also saw he was hosting a musky "school" in Canada for about the same price as established schools.
Maybe I'm just a disgruntled old man, but it seems a lot of the newer guides that have popped up everywhere over the past three or four years put more energy into photoshop than anything else. If they can put us on fish, teach some techniques, and provide a good experience, they get a tip. I'm not tipping someone that just got paid good money to fish all day and wasn't about putting his all into our group's experience. |
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Posts: 22
| Lester I know the guide you are talking about and yes he does demand a big price but he is also one of the very best on the bodies he guides on. Well worth the money and you aren't going to come away disappointed. Great guy with a lot of passion and you can learn a lot from him. |
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Posts: 72
| He might be good, but no way I’m paying that kind of money for a guide that’s only been around a couple years when I could pay less for a guy that’s been fishing those waters for decades. The photoshop might hook some newer anglers, but not this crotchety old man. Sorry, the sticker shock just got to me. I’ll go back to yelling at clouds... |
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Posts: 98
| I get that take, but I don't think years of experience is everything. Kind of like at my job. I know people who have been doing what I do for 15 years that are idiots. I also know ones with 1 year of experience that are phenomenal.
Years of experience and being smart are 2 different things. But I can't afford to hire a guide charging upwards of 1k anyway so sticker shock is real, but if he can make it work then he's not doing anything wrong. |
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Posts: 661
Location: Roscoe IL | Just went with a guide in June. Fee was $425 (full day) and we added $75. Fished from 8am to 1pm went for lunch before heading to lake #2. On the way to lake#2 the guide got T-Boned and the boat wound up on the street.. I felt so bad for him, but drinks that night made us all feel a bit better. There was no way I was only going to pay half and not tip. I wanted to pay for his dinner & drinks but he refused.
This guy is without question the best muskie fisherman I have fished with.
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Posts: 112
Location: Illinois | I have fished with 6 guides. Couple of them multiple times. Kind of develops a “professional friendship “ with them. The one got very lax and took advantage of said “friendship”. After the first time (I’m not going into details) I let it go. The 2nd day he starts telling me we would be done at 2pm (started at 6) I said “well seemed like after yesterday, we’d be out at least 10 hours. He responded with “I base it on 8 hours and fish activity”. I didn’t say much but that was the last time I used his service. He called the next spring to ask if we were coming up I said yes but was just going to fish by myself. Never heard from him again and never contacted him. Oh...and didn’t tip him the 2nd day. I always have given 50$ as a tip. |
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Posts: 20
| Why should someone who sets their own fee be tipped? I get tipping restaurant employees whose base rate is set in the state I live in as well as their income is primarily due to tips. Do you tip your plumber, electrician, or other profession? I do not and will never tip anyone who sets their own rate. If they are good at any service they provided me a recommendation to other for sure. If they are exceptional I would go out of my way to use their services again. Tipping a fishing guide to me is a joke. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I guided for 20 years plus and still do once in a great while. I did set my price based upon what the market would bear, and never assumed I would be tipped. That said:
A guide in many cases is actually an outfitter. The job entails social talents as well as those required to put the client on fish and teach them how to catch them. In many cases the guide has to do some of the same job as the waitress/waiter has except he or she also cooks or brings lunch. The job is service related much different than a plumber or carpenter or electrician, they provide hard won expertise to repair or build, and the less they have to interact with the client the better. They sure as you are alive won't teach you how to do their job.
Most of my clients hired me for the entertainment value of the experience and to learn, not to have me fix their reel or build them a fish cleaning station. I received tips from folks who truly appreciated the experience of the day, and they were happy to tip me even though they knew it was not expected. I'm pretty sure none thought it funny.
There's an old book titled 'To Hell With Fishing' with stories and cartoons from the 30's and 40's. Paraphrasing one, "Sometimes in the evening after the guide day when guides got together sitting around the fire with a cold one reminiscing about the day, a Guide would describe his client that day as a 'Sport'. Other guides know what he meant.......
It's traditional for guides and outfitters who do exceptional work to be offered a tip. No one has to, and a few don't.
A number of my clients back in the day ended up guiding for part of their living, the ultimate compliment. I miss it, but just plain don't have the time. Someday I'll throw out the shingle in the front yard again, maybe. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | chrisshow80 - 9/1/2020 4:51 PM
Why should someone who sets their own fee be tipped? I get tipping restaurant employees whose base rate is set in the state I live in as well as their income is primarily due to tips. Do you tip your plumber, electrician, or other profession? I do not and will never tip anyone who sets their own rate. If they are good at any service they provided me a recommendation to other for sure. If they are exceptional I would go out of my way to use their services again. Tipping a fishing guide to me is a joke.
How many times have you hired a guide and any of them more than once? |
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Posts: 92
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Did a guided fly trip in Co. Used Ark Anglers out of Salida. We tipped our guide. I cant count the number of times he tied flies, tangles undone, flies lost, provided great service. Hence the tip. |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | chrisshow80 - 9/1/2020 4:51 PM
Why should someone who sets their own fee be tipped? I get tipping restaurant employees whose base rate is set in the state I live in as well as their income is primarily due to tips. Do you tip your plumber, electrician, or other profession? I do not and will never tip anyone who sets their own rate. If they are good at any service they provided me a recommendation to other for sure. If they are exceptional I would go out of my way to use their services again. Tipping a fishing guide to me is a joke.
I can’t understand this. A guide service tip should be based on the quality of your trip which will depend on the quality of service he provides. Same as a waitress. Bigger tips for better service. Many guides bend over backwards for their clients and should be rewarded for it. |
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Location: Ottawa River | Im a guide. I teach all day. I make you laugh. I rack my brain to put you on a fish. I ask what you want out of the day most? ...learning or fish? I cast water you arent and use lures you arent. If I get a follow or hook a fish you are using that lure now. And I always ask if that is cool with you. ...Me casting. Fly guys in the boat? ...I dont cast. I'm here to serve you. If I hook a fish I pass you my rod so you get the experience of handling a ski. I'm always the net guy and I always unhook the fish. I take great pictures. If you tip me great. If not I accept that since I dont know your financial situation.
For me it is a great gig. I mean a dream job! I really like the people who I have the priviledge to take out. I never ever short change anyone with time... You always get extra time in reality. 5 and 9 hour trips go 5.5-6 and 9.5 to 10 almost always.
I enjoy helping you make memories...that is my reward. Senior Guide Ottawa River Musky Factory. Ottawa Ontario.
Edited by fordson 9/2/2020 3:10 PM
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