Been there, done that. You keep wondering how your casts are getting messed up, or how your line is wrapping around your rod. 🤣
Guide Tips
- Thread starter salmo
- Start date
wildtrout2
Well-known member
I'll be watching a video and dude's line will be wrapped around the rod, but he continues to fish. Plays hell with my OCD. 😉
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
I would if I were to hire a guide, which is highly unlikely, so realistically I wouldn't, but if I did, I would.
greywolf
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2013
- Messages
- 127
There are many people who save / work overtime for years to go on a once in a lifetime trip. Paying huge tips is often not in their financial ability. Tips should be earned and appropriate for the service rendered. Not an automatic 20% add on.
wildtrout2
Well-known member
Some of the most well off people I've met are also some of the cheapest I've met. Prolly one of the reasons they became well off.
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tomgamber
Well-known member
Some thoughts on tipping.
I think the idea of knowing ahead of time what your going to tip is a little strange. If the tip is pre-determined its just part of what the guide costs. If someone tells me its proper to tip X amount, I might take that as a baseline. If the service or experience was less than expected, I probably won't tip 100% of X. If the service or experience was above and beyond what I expected. I'll probably tip more than X. Or maybe I won't use X. Perhaps my tip, before someone telling me what a proper tip would be, was higher or lower. Maybe X+ or - $X dollars was my baseline. The point is that tips should communicate the experience of the customer to the guide, server, driver, doorman,...whatever. But its two fold. It works both ways.
Your tip may also communicate something about the customer as well. You may get better or worse service next time based on the tip you left the last time. Maybe they won't want to provide you that service at all upon your next request. Its also possible the service provider may not judge your tip at all if you make his experience by you being the customer better in some way.
I remember on many occasions just making someone's day and getting tipped way more than I thought necessary or expected. I was very grateful and remembered that customer the next. I've also been the customer having a crappy day and had someone turn it around by just being nicer or doing something extraordinary,
Like I said, tipping should reflect the experience. Your tip should communicate something to the provider. If you think a certain amount is necessary, then its just an extra charge for the service. I remember picking up the bill for large dinner on more than one occasion. The restaurant add a gratuity less than I would have given them. Once I decided to just tip what they asked. nothing more, no argument. The service was not extraordinary. Another time I paid the added gratuity, and tipped a couple oof the servers and even went over to the bar and tipped he guy who made our drinks. I've been there.
Like any job, some days they just show up. Other days, they really enjoy providing good service for good customers. its what they do and at least at this point in their lives, how they make a living. But if you're going to set the tip ahead of time just up the price and be sure you provide the level of service you charge for.
I knew a ****tail waitress once who worked in a hotel. I remember one day when the wait staff found out what the kitchen staff made an hour. A couple got bent out of shape. A few just smirked and barely reacted and when one of the whiners ask, "don't you think we should get that kind of money?" She said, "Hell no! I make too much money".
I think the idea of knowing ahead of time what your going to tip is a little strange. If the tip is pre-determined its just part of what the guide costs. If someone tells me its proper to tip X amount, I might take that as a baseline. If the service or experience was less than expected, I probably won't tip 100% of X. If the service or experience was above and beyond what I expected. I'll probably tip more than X. Or maybe I won't use X. Perhaps my tip, before someone telling me what a proper tip would be, was higher or lower. Maybe X+ or - $X dollars was my baseline. The point is that tips should communicate the experience of the customer to the guide, server, driver, doorman,...whatever. But its two fold. It works both ways.
Your tip may also communicate something about the customer as well. You may get better or worse service next time based on the tip you left the last time. Maybe they won't want to provide you that service at all upon your next request. Its also possible the service provider may not judge your tip at all if you make his experience by you being the customer better in some way.
I remember on many occasions just making someone's day and getting tipped way more than I thought necessary or expected. I was very grateful and remembered that customer the next. I've also been the customer having a crappy day and had someone turn it around by just being nicer or doing something extraordinary,
Like I said, tipping should reflect the experience. Your tip should communicate something to the provider. If you think a certain amount is necessary, then its just an extra charge for the service. I remember picking up the bill for large dinner on more than one occasion. The restaurant add a gratuity less than I would have given them. Once I decided to just tip what they asked. nothing more, no argument. The service was not extraordinary. Another time I paid the added gratuity, and tipped a couple oof the servers and even went over to the bar and tipped he guy who made our drinks. I've been there.
Like any job, some days they just show up. Other days, they really enjoy providing good service for good customers. its what they do and at least at this point in their lives, how they make a living. But if you're going to set the tip ahead of time just up the price and be sure you provide the level of service you charge for.
I knew a ****tail waitress once who worked in a hotel. I remember one day when the wait staff found out what the kitchen staff made an hour. A couple got bent out of shape. A few just smirked and barely reacted and when one of the whiners ask, "don't you think we should get that kind of money?" She said, "Hell no! I make too much money".
TimMurphy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 3,549
Dear greywolf,
Like I said, those people are just plain cheap. It really is that simple.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
20% is fairly accepted as standard, based on the assumption guide is working hard (not based on the fishing or catching). Owner or not, they are still working hard and deserve a tip. I didn’t develop tipping culture and this is not about any other industry cause each one would be unique, but if you’re booking a fishing guide and a camp etc, tipping should be assumed as part of the cost and 20% is typical and reasonable.
dryflyguy
Well-known member
And you dont find out about it until you wade far out and start casting to a nice pod of risers.
Forcing you to make a hasty retreat to shore, to re-string
CRB
Well-known member
I always tip they know me and that makes the experience much better. They know me what I want and what I expect.
Bruno
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2006
- Messages
- 2,429
I've found that people who’ve worked in the service industry and relied on tips tend to be much better tippers themselves. When you've lived that life, you understand how much a good tip can mean—not just financially, but as recognition for the effort.
On the flip side, those who haven’t had that experience often don’t fully grasp the importance of tipping or how much it affects service workers.
Tipping well builds relationships, and it definitely pays off.
On the flip side, those who haven’t had that experience often don’t fully grasp the importance of tipping or how much it affects service workers.
Tipping well builds relationships, and it definitely pays off.
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
My wife, who bartended her way through college, always tips when we order takeout from a restaurant (a true restaurant, not a pizza place or the like). Me, being a rather thrifty fella, questioned this tactic. She explained to me that restaurants don't have someone who's sole job is to answer the phone, and it is commonly the bartender who answers the phone and takes the order, gets it back to the kitchen, makes sure it is getting handled and has it ready to go when you get there.
She also bartended at a brewery and introduced me to the world of craft beer. The woman is a saint.
tomgamber
Well-known member
When we get pizza at our regular place I leave a little extra for the order taker/order retriever. first, I don;t get put on hold when I call. And they know how long it takes me to get there so they put my order in accordingly. Sometimes I forget to say "well done" but they know so it always is.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
It all depends. The prices some get for walk-in guiding, not burning gas or rowing all day (or protecting your hide, as in the OP's case), is getting ridiculous. I always tip, but 20% is earned.
I also like the suggestions about having an open conversation. One dude I use for a couple jet boat trips on the Susquehanna each year for many years is the owner/operator, and he was quite frank about his expectations. Have the talk.
I also like the suggestions about having an open conversation. One dude I use for a couple jet boat trips on the Susquehanna each year for many years is the owner/operator, and he was quite frank about his expectations. Have the talk.
When I take you out on my basic jet boat I just put together, I'll settle for a 15% tip.
I received information from a well-respected fly-fishing outfitter suggesting that a tip of between 10% to 15% of the package price for an all-inclusive, week-long stay at a lodge, with guiding included, is customary and that 12% would be a good target. However, this advice is for a trip outside the U.S., so perhaps this particular guidance would not apply to trips out of Montana.
As someone mentioned earlier using the example of a guided Kodiak bear hunt, I think a respectable percentage can be less than 20% if it is based on the overall cost of a relatively expensive, all-inclusive trip as compared to hiring a guide for a single day's fishing.
I've hired a few fishing guides over the years, mostly for drift boat trips down the Salmon River (NY), and I don't believe I ever tipped less than 20% but usually more. On the other hand, 20% or more can quickly get out of hand if based on the overall cost of an all-inclusive trip and not just for the cost of the guide and perhaps the room/kitchen staff.
As someone mentioned earlier using the example of a guided Kodiak bear hunt, I think a respectable percentage can be less than 20% if it is based on the overall cost of a relatively expensive, all-inclusive trip as compared to hiring a guide for a single day's fishing.
I've hired a few fishing guides over the years, mostly for drift boat trips down the Salmon River (NY), and I don't believe I ever tipped less than 20% but usually more. On the other hand, 20% or more can quickly get out of hand if based on the overall cost of an all-inclusive trip and not just for the cost of the guide and perhaps the room/kitchen staff.
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rancid waders
Well-known member
My personal experience is to tip well to guides who obviously are working hard to get me into fish. Good owners/guides make good good memories.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
Hahahaha 🤣 @nymphingmaniac will row me around just for my good looks and sparkling personality, but that does come with a price tag too!
