This question gets asked often and the answer (other than the standard 15%) is always "whatever you think is fair."
It's up to you. If the guide busts his ass, go big. If it he was a slacker then maybe no tip at all. I've not hired many guides….in fact only two in my life for any species. Both I tipped about 25% because they were just awesome and I had a great time each time.
Myself guiding in the past, some of my best tips weren't money at all, but were things or gestures. One client was a surgeon and gave me a brand new forceps that he had in his personal surgical collection…like a $150 tool. Another guy gave me a brand new Leatherman. One guy I guided for a week and invited me to his private rance in MT for a week of whatever I wanted…fishing, hunting, etc. I had it all planned and ready and then plans fell through, but the point is he was willing to put me up at his place for a week and that's a big gesture that I really appreciated.
Cash is cool, but my best tips have been "other than" cash.
Ultimately it comes down to what you want to give. Remember that most guides aren't rich people so money is appreciated. But I'm now personal friends with both guides I've fished with (and now we fish together as friends vs client and guide) and I still have contact with clients I had eight years ago. Not that tipping made it that way, but gestures and experiences go further than just the day on the water.
I have always tipped as I have always had good experiences with guides. I can see not tipping if the guide is an absolute jerk and you hated every minute on the water, but most guides are very nice and know what they're doing. I usually tip 20-40 (total) bucks depending on the experience and fish caught. My tip usually goes up if I hire the same guy for multiple years in a row. We have been using the same guide up at AML for about five straight years so I think we each tip him $20-30. To add to what Jeff said, sometimes we have given the guides a lure or two that was moving lots of fish and they didn't have (mainly custom baits).
I think the easy answer is there is no answer. I've received nearly 100% tips on fishless 1/2 days and no tip on full days with a big fish in the boat. I think all guides would tell you that they don't expect a tip but they appreciate when they get them. I'm not insulted if I don't get a tip but I'm appreciative when I do get a tip.
Agree, not expected, but appreciated. Most common tip in my boat has been $50. Very much appreciated, especially when covering lots of water. Gas isn't going down…
I have only hired a hand full of guides, but i had one case when i was at a fly-in pike lodge and hired a guide. I talked with him the day before and emphasized I was after larger pike. He assured me thats what we would focus on.
He took me walleye fishing for 5 hours, then ran me around the lake and told me to save GPS points. He didn't get a tip…
On the other hand, Mr. Thorpe has taken very good care of me out east. I have taken good care of him in return…
Tipping is something I take very serious on all aspects of life when tipping is appropriate. Any service that is done well receives a tip….
Guides, Tattoo artist, restaurants, etc…. If the expectations were met fish or no fish I usually tip 20-25%. I can't think of a time when a tip wasn't deserved. It even makes me want to tip more when the person isn't expecting it. I've tipped furniture guys, carpet installers, AT&T u-verse technician who saved me $140 due to my error. I've tipped guys who've built my deck as well as put food on the grill for them during lunchtime. For the most part I tip on nearly everything where it's accepted.
The only pet peeve I have is the guys in the bathroom at a bar, club or drinking establishment where they try and give you soap and towel when washing hands. I can't stand that! If it's a long night drinking your making multiple trips to bathroom with some dude dressed up expecting a tip everytime you was your hands. These guys don't a tip from me. It's completely ridiculous…..
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