how much to tip a guide?

[picksbigwagon]

I have nothing to add to this thread, I just wanted to be the 100th post!

[Da Beak]

Quote:

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I have nothing to add to this thread, I just wanted to be the 100th post!

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Now that's funny!!

It's the best thing I've read on this thread yet!

[Shack]

Now,

Should I tip a guide or not?

[justfishingaround]

Hmmm I wonder what the record for # of reply's is? good luck.

[Shack]

I would have to say it is in the "free items only" area. Something about elec. fishing programs.

[Hermy Wormy]

Okay, I have tried to read through a few of these posts and I have a question regarding a recent expirience.

Myself and 23 friends hired 4 charter fishing boats (6 people on each) for two 6 hour charters on Lake Michigan.

One afternoon trip followed by one morning trip. Going after salmon of course. These boats are all operated by the same company, so the Captains were not the owners of the boat or the equipment.

For the afternoon trip our captain was on his first ever job of being a captain. He had expirience as a mate for 3 years. Our first mate was also a novice so the rookie captain was trying to help him out as much as possible as well as driving the boat. To make a long story short, we boated 6 salmon in 6 hours. The other 3 boats were all around the 20 to 25 fish mark. Needless to say we were a little disappointed. The captain assured us that there would be an expirienced first mate for the morning bite.

Well, 4am rolled around and we were not swayed by our lack of fish the day before. Ready to roll and ready to troll... but wait... Where's our first mate? He overslept!!! Now we are stuck with the rookie captain and no mate. To make this part of the story a little shorter. We boated 13 salmon from 4am to 10am. The other 3 boats were all limited out and in the harbor by 7am. Thats right, 90 fish in the boat within 3 hours.

I realize the Captain was a rookie and did the best he could considering the circumstances. He was a really nice kid. Would you say he deserves a tip? and if so, how much?

[ole matty]

you CANNOT expected to catch alot of fish or limited out.... if it was me i wld give rookie captain tips.. but thats just me.

[eyepatrol]

Tip him or don't tip him....you make the choice. Keep this in mind though....at least you got on fish, and that's what you paid for. Sometimes guide trips come up with blanks, it's just the nature of the beast. Wanting 30 fish instead of 13 seems to go down the gready path to me though. Just be happy you got out and on some fish.

[Hermy Wormy]

Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that we paid to get fish, and yes we got some. However, last year we were with the same company. None of the boats were overflowing with fish, nor were any boats skunked. We were all pretty equal. It wasn't a great time for fishing as a weather front had just moved in a day before. I guess I didn't feel like we had been let down a bit since none of the boats were killing 'em. I understand its not always going to be a great day fishing.

This year however, I guess when one boat in comes in with a 2 day total of 55 fish, and our boat comes in with 18... I don't really think its being greedy to want to be at least somewhat equal with the other boats.

Would you tip him?

[harvey lee]

I cannot answer that question for you. I always tip if I have been shown a very good time and learned a few things that day. If you feel that the guide went above and beyond in his service to you, then a tip might be the thing to do. I cannot say that the amount of my tip wont be reflected by the catch for the day, but I try not to tip on how many we caught but rather on how hard the guide worked to find me those fish. One cannot guarantee fish.

[PierBridge]

I can say I almost always tip in everything and would have reluctantly on this one, you should have brought this matter to the attention of the owner of the company for possible compensation.

[Nate McVey]

It sounds like the kid did as good as he could under the circumstances. Sounds like the owner is to blame by putting the 2 rookies together. I think I would have tipped since the kid did his best and it sounds like he had to do twice the work to get you those fish.

[The_Duckslayer]

I would tip the young man he did what he could with what he had. Then I would go to the management and ask for a partial refund as you did not actually get what you contracted for././Jimbo

[Sandmannd]

I would agree with Duckslayer. Since the kid worked his butt off I would tip hime. But I would go to the owner and expect some money back for putting to rookies together and for sure for the second day when they short handed the boat. Doesn't seem right at all that you pay all that money and don't have the people working that are needed.

[eyepatrol]

I think that's a very good approach.

[Mikefrommason]

I've been guiding fisherman for the past 3 years in North Iowa. I bust my butt and go above and beyond for every client I have out regardless if they tip or not. I think that should be expected. I do, however, get tipped about 90% of the time. My rates are way cheaper than most so those tips really help out. The main thing with a tip is it tells my I'm doing the right thing, so if you don't tip at least let your guide know if you had a good time and if not what they need to do different.

[harvey lee]

I would agree that if you are tipped 90% of the time, you are the man and for sure doing your job as a guide. I just believe that a tip is a huge thank-you to the guide for a job very well done.

[Shack]

I worked as an automotive service advisor for 12 years. I would go above and beyond for my customer’s with out any question of a tip. I had to do this to keep a repeat customer base, second because it lead to many prestigious awards and good money, plus it was just mainly who I am. Amazingly, I did get tipped quite often. Most times it was for plugging a tire for a customer in the service isle that was in a huge hurry or getting something covered by warranty that was not and other things like this. I have even got beer or been bought beers in a bar by my customers. Point of this is, it should never be expected, but sure is nice when it happens. It makes you feel like you are doing well and makes you work harder with the next customer to get that feeling again.

P.S.

The ones that did tip, I would never forget. The next time they came in I would do something special for them to repay the favor, like having their car washed and vac..

This may be wrong, but it was what I did.

[Quickstrike]

You should get personal satisfaction when tipping a guide, you shouldn't have the midset that "I'm out 50 bucks". You should be thinking that "this guy gave me a great day on the water so I'm going to show my appreciation". I work as a bartender paying off student loans and am the first to say that tips mean more than just the sum of money you make. It makes you feel like people appreciatte your service.

I would tip a guide 15-20 percent on a good day, maybe even more on a day where i felt that i gained much more than i expected out of a trip. I can't believe how many people on here are anti-tip, customers forget that they aren't there to see a guide getting the boat ready the night before, or a bartender or serving scrubbing the floor at 3 in the morning, I'm surely doing more during my shift than "reaching in the cooler and grabbing you a beer."

It seems there are a lot of hard feelings when it comes to this topic. just do what you feel is right and what you feel comfortable with, whether that means leaving a tip or not.

[Scott K]

I think it would depend on the circumstance, and how I was prepaired for it. I feel I dont have to tip, but if I think the person, guide or whoever tried to do his best, was friendly, and if I had a good time, I would. I also think if I was paying $600 for 5 people for a half a day fishing, I should expect a good time, a friendly host, that does his best to make sure his services were top notch. Then at the end of the trip would I still tip? Sometimes it is a financial thing. I dont have a ton of money laying around, if I spend $600 for 5 people to fish, I am going to be a little tight on cash for the rest of my trip, so the tip might be low, or forgoten, not because I didnt enjoy myself, but because I dont have an extra $50 to drop for a tip.

So should I just not go to the trip because I dont have the extra $50, or should I go, and let them know I had a good time?

[katoguy]

No, we aren't there to see a guide getting a boat ready, but prep work should be included in their salary. Just like when you cut lemons, fill the peanut bowl, or fill the cooler.

Like someone said, tips may be justified if they keep you out longer, run your kid into the restrooms (extra gas), etc... (above and beyond -- not for reaching into a cooler).

If 2 other boats had fantastic fishing and my boat had terrible fishing because of 2 rookies in charge, no way would I tip. I would also let the owner know of the situation and disappointing catch (relative to the other boats). I would also let all my friends and neighbors know to be careful with that guide service. Is this tough love for the poor rookie captain? You betcha. The rough sea will teach him to get in ship-shape or to ship out.

[harvey lee]

4wnaderingeyes. You should go and enjoy the trip. If you cannot or dont believe that you should, that is also fine. They are being paid a good wage to take you fishing for the time purchased.

I personally choose to tip a guide if I believe that they went above and beyond the call of duty. One does not have to do it.

Go fishing and enjoy and dont think you have to tip. It is a personal choice just like buying a car, we all dont buy chevy's.

[bottomfeeder]

My barber now runs her shop out of her house. Should I still tip her?

[harvey lee]

If you would like. I usually tip my barber.

[Nate McVey]

Everytime I get a haircut