Guided trips

[rckrego]

Hey guys- What's the proper amount to tip a guide?

[YODA]

[quote author=rckrego link=topic=421.msg2618#msg2618 date=1176487414]
Hey guys- What's the proper amount to tip a guide?
[/quote]


$150.00 !!!!!!! NO I AM NOT A GUIDE...

[rckrego]

Thanks Yoda

[Troutbum from Griswold]

As much as possible LOL Just kidding. I am a guide and and in my experience a lot of the clients have been very generous. However, with saying that, I once read in an article about tipping guides and I believe they mentioned anywhere from 15-20% on the average. Again, I can't remember exact figures but it was somewhere in an around this figure.I have heard people say it depends if it is a walk and wade or a float trip. Half day vs. full day. Personally, when I go on trips and get a guide, I tend to give the average but many times on the higher side. As a guide I know how hard they work at getting clients into fish and having an all around good experience. Friends and aquaintances of mine who don't fish laugh at me when I say that I am working when I guide. They think it's not hard and they think I am just "going fishing. That's not work." They don't know the thought that goes into guiding. The prep. I sleep, eat, breathe, and drink fly fishing. Guides need to know what hatches are coming off. What times they start and end. Knowing what to use in high water, low water, murky discolored water, what flies and sizes to use, what places hold fish, knowing what different presentations work and don't work depending on the situation, giving instruction when it's needed, etc. etc. etc. Hope this helps. Wish I could remember exact figures in that article but I am almost positive 15-20% was the average.

[Nymphmeister]

Yeah, I would say 15-20% is the norm. And remember, don't tip based on how many fish you catch, but rather on the effort the guide puts forth. Remember, the guide cannot control what shape the river is in, your fishing ability, the weather, or whether the trout are on the bite. However, if you pay attention you can learn a lot, and hopefully catch some nice fish too in the process.

[Defeatist]

Ditto on Nymphmeisters comments. Sometimes when you go the fish just aren't cooperating. It happens, to even the best fisherman. When I guide I try to make the clients have a good time, learn a few things about the area, give some advice and insight on the techniques they have questions on, and pretty much forget about all the other stressfull things in their lives. Theres nothing more therapeutic than stepping into a river and hearing the sound of rushing water, birds and the pull of a fish or two on the end of your line.

I recently read an article posted by a guide out west about questions not to ask a guide. The article though entertaining and having some merit, didnt sit well with alot of anglers. There really isnt a stupid question to ask, its only stupid if you dont ask it, who knows the answer might be the difference in you consistently catching fish, or going home with a donut. Good luck

The stro

[AaronJasper]

about asking questions... there are no stupid questions... just dumb answers ???

[SlowNDeep]

I heard about this - I think.

A buddy of mine was telling me that some guide wrote into American Angler (I think) in a My Rant section and was complaining about all the silly questions ppl ask.

My opinion is that anyone paying for your services deserves the respect and attention of a simple, kind, and thoughtful answer to any question they ask, even if you've heard the same question 367,482 times before. Remember, for most of these ppl, if they were as expert as the guide, they wouldn't hire one.

As for tips, the bigger the better ;D - Seriously, tip your guide as you would like to be tipped for the same level of effort -

When I hire a guide, if they give me a taxi ride down the river, I give them a taxi tip, if they give me a great effort and teach me some new stuff - I tip them accordingly, though sometimes they need a crowbar to pry the money from my fingers

[Troutbum from Griswold]

I didn't see or hear of the article but I don't know why a guide would complain about that. There is no such thing as stupid questions. Like Rich said, just ones that are not asked. I am a very seasoned fly fisherman but I ask questions all the time! The more ya know the better you become. Plus, your able to help others out down the road. I am a social worker by trade so I am used to people asking me questions of all types and sometimes the same ones, time after time after time

[Jawzz]

When do the Deer turn to Elk?