I refrain from tipping based on how the trip goes, especially in the musky world. There is nothing a guide can do some days, but for the most part he will impart a TON of knowledge, which is priceless, therefore tip much. I can't give you a number but 20% is a good start. I have been in the embarrassing situation of not having enough to tip (brother borrowed beer money without telling me), so I made it up later on another trip, but that is still uncomfortable… So be prepared!

I usually do about 15-20% to start and then go up from there based on how the day goes. Obviously putting fish in the boat is nice, but I'm really there to learn from the guide. Learn how to fish certain lures, how to fish certain structure, how to fish different cover, how to trigger fish, etc. If I learn a lot from a guide, I know I can use that to catch fish in the future on my own and will tip well because of that. If the guide is only worried about himself catching fish and I'm just 'along for the ride' then I won't tip too much.

I've gotten to the point I fish with a select few of guides. As I get older my fishing becomes limited and it's refreshing to just hop on a boat and just fish. Even with a ton of experience from salt to freshwater I've got specific guides in specific areas to get me out fishing and put me on fish. The guides I fish with get no less than 20% per day. I've known all these guides for some time now and truly know their #1 goal is to put me on fish. Spend a day with a fly fishing saltwater guide who spends his day poling his skiff in stiff winds with 98 degree temps, blistering sun to have you make the perfect cast to migrating Tarpon. Or a Brown Trout guide who rows in super strong current and even takes you out in the middle of night to catch a trophy Brown "mousing" with a fly rod. Or a Muskie guide that will fish hard sun up to sun down to put you on a trophy fish. I always tip no less than 20% but that is simply because the guides I fish with work hard not just for me but for every other client that steps on their boat. Frankly I could not imagine tipping a guide that did his job any less than 20%. I've seen guides go through EXTREME lengths to put me on fish. Funny thing is I have not had one day over many years fishing with these guides where I felt a 20% tip wasn't earned. Unless your guide is "going through the motions" then always tip 20%.