Hello first and foremost to all, this is my first post on FAOL, BB so if I have placed it in the wrong catergory please forgive me. I am from Wales in the U.K and have just booked a trip to fish in Montana next June, I have done a little fly-fishing in the US (Maryland)but next year decided to do it properly and get some guided fishing, this is my part of my problem how much is a guides gratuity (tip???), I don’t want to embaress myself by not rewarding him/her correctly so any advice from you guys would be grateful. Also some advice on the “salmon fly” which I gather will be prevolent on the streams would be helpful too, many thanks Richie.
Dear Richie,
It has been my experience that typical rules for gratuities apply to guides as well and a tip in the range of 15 to 20% of the cost of the trip is customary.
Keep in mind that the tip is supposed to be earned and you may feel based on what you experience on your guided trip that a bit more money or a bit less is more appropriate.
I apologize, but I can’t help you on the salmon fly hatch. I’m sure if you search the archives on this FAOL website you should be able to turn up some useful information.
Best Wishes,
Avalon
Hello and welcome RichieB, google these words: salmon fly hatch montana and you’ll get more information than you’ll ever be able to absorb !
Cheers for the
Holidays,
MontanaMoose
Richie -
A tip of $50 to $100 is common, which ranges from a bit lower to a bit higher than the 15-20% range already mentioned.
Also, don’t know where in Montana you’re going but I assume you are aware that in June there is a significant potential for high water, and/or difficulty in matching your scheduled trip date with the actual salmon fly hatch period.
John
Thanks for the advice chaps, going to be fishing June 10th through to the 16th on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and the Clarkfork Rivers, so hoping there wont be too much high water. Plus never fished from a moving boat on a river before, don’t it on the lakes back here in Blighty, any hints?.
Probably not what you had in mind, but …
Wear a good wide brimmed hat, sunblock, sunglasses, and a life vest! You’ll want to finish the entire trip!
Ritchie,
If you’re fishing with a guide then they should provide all the flies you need to use. If the guide is really good he’ll know what to use where on each stretch of water you float. I’d be cautious of any guide that is going to ask that you provide your own flies. If you simply want to use some you tied up for the trip, then I’d ask the guide if he minds if you tie up some of the more popular flies he uses to use on that trip.
As far as what to tip…well, on a trip to Mexico I had such a good guide I tipped him the amount of the trip. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, I tipped a guy 10% because he was a complete schmuck. I base it on how hard they work to get me fish, how personable they are, how good a time I have. I don’t base it on how many fish I catch. I’ve had days on my home water where I’ve caught litterally 100 fish and then next time nothing on the same stretch, so that doesn’t really matter to me and it’s not the guides fault if the fish arent’ biting, although they should always be able to get you into a few. Be your own judge on how much to tip.
One more thing, be honest to the guide on how experienced you are at flyfishing. He’ll adjust his technique according to how experienced you are, and if you tell him you are experienced, and you’re not, it’ll only make you look bad and cause him endless frustration in trying to get you into fish.
I hope this helps a little, you’ve definately chosen some first class water to fish.
Tight lines,
Thunderthumbs.
Ritchie,
The salmon fly hatch is amazing. I love to fish it here in Oregon. Looking it up on google is a good bet to get a basic like history and photos. Every year when the hatch is thich it makes me think of the plague of locust from the bible… huge bugs everywhere, including all over you. 
They really like to crawl up your neck as soon as you hook a fish. But they are harmless and rather attractive.
Adam
Hi Ritchie
You can “Hope” for not too much water on your trip to western MT, But–you are highy probable going to hit the Peak snow pack run-off with your scheduled June dates with the rivers blown out. I would suggest deferring a month.
See historical flow rates on your planned rivers at:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt
Good luck
Max
HI
I’m not sure about the Salmon fly hatch on the rivers that you mentioned, but for the area around here the hatch comes off nearer to the end of June. It varies almost every year when it happens.
Dean
Hi
Here is a site you may want to look at. I’m sure that the Salmon fly in Montana is a stone fly.
http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?search … University
Dean
I don’t know if this will help. If you already knew just ignore me. When you are looking for info on the Salmon Fly what you want to look for is:
Order: Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
Family: Pteronarcyidae
Genus: Pteronarcys
This might help if you want to look on some of the more technichal/scientific websites.
Tight Lines,
Adam
This will help. It it actual pictures of them and other information you will need. I am sorry, but you will need to read the whole series. It will be important.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/fliesonly/
Thank you all for you help and advice, it seems this fly is a big old so and so, 4 and 6’s seem to be the popular sizes a bit different from the stuff I have used in the UK, Poland and Slovenia, Klinkhammers, Griffiths Gnats and Ducks Duns were the best patterns by far.
Richie, we did a bit of guiding there. If we can make your trip better, just ask.
Richie,
Salmon Flies are great for catching trout, but the window of opportunity for using them is only a few weeks and WHICH couple of weeks???
It’s fun to watch trout attack Salmon Flies. I have heard that it takes the trout a while to eat their first SF’S, because their not part of their normal diet. Having regular size Stone Flies might be a good thing to bring with you.
Dragonfly Nymphs also provoke trout to go crazy, mostly in lakes.
Doug
Richie: A tip of money is always a good choice. However, in addition you might consider bringing some Salmon Flies from the UK in a nice envelope as a jesture for a job well done. I was given some flies tied in Scotland by a good friend who came here to fish (from Montrose) and it was my extreme pleasure to show him around and provide advise. I still cherish those flies more than the dinner and beer he bought for me. I travel to Mexico to fish and use a guide. I always give a money tip but in addition I take along a USA Baseball team cap and give it to them from the start of the trip. The grin and exceptional service starts with that small jesture. Something to ponder. Good fishing, Jonezee
Hey Richie, First off you’ll love Montana. Beautiful country. If you get there during the Salmonfly hatch be prepared to chuck and duck. Those suckers are huge. We go to Ennis every couple of years and you never know what you’re gonna run into. Weather and fishing are both very changeble. Wait till you get there for flies. They will have some local favorites and we buy these huge salmonfly nymphs that I have not seen elswhere. Good luck you’ll have a great time. Just don’t hook the guide!
Mike
Thanks for the advice chaps, going to be fishing June 10th through to the 16th on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and the Clarkfork Rivers, so hoping there wont be too much high water. Plus never fished from a moving boat on a river before, don’t it on the lakes back here in Blighty, any hints?.
RichieB:
The hatch here is usually around late June, Early July in Livingston, MT (making the 2nd to 4th of July here a great time to visit with the Rodeo and Parade and fireworks!). That is if the hatch is fishable as the Yellowstone River is not a tailwater (no dams).
Any way, it is a tricky hatch to catch. Sometimes too many variables to hit it right (including where on the river is the best to be. Have the fish not seen these huge monsters yet? Are they too full from eating them? Etc…).
And also, the Salmon fly (which is actually a stonefly) is not always the prime-time hatch. Usually we have lots of caddis and smaller stoneflies (Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and Lime Sallies) hatching at the same time and they usually catch the most fish (don’t forget some Elk Hair Caddis). I’ve basically never fished where you are heading too and I am only a 5 hour ride away. Isn’t that a shame? 
As far as fishing from a drift boat: Claim the front of the boat!! If you are fishing with a gal, the guide will try and put her in the front (if she has a nice backside) <BG> LOL!
Thanks for the tip about bringing some of our home flies across, I am a reasonable tyer but I have a friend here who is exeptional, not a pro but just as good, so a few home favourites may not go amiss. I realise that I may not arrive in the middle of the hatch but I am just looking forward to fishing for trout who look up!, many of our rivers here are suffering from lack of fly life, even our “Duffers Fortnight” the annual Mayfly hatch, Danica and Vulgata can be very hit or miss and more like three days rather than a fortnight (2 weeks). As far as I am aware I will be the only angler in the boat but I am not averse to a lady angler sharing (as long as she does not catch as many as me, although that may not be the case), you are all so lucky to have so much fishing at your finger tips and the sporting ethos that goes with it.