I am going on a fully guided 1-day trip later this week. I was wondering what the protocol was on tipping the guide as in what percentage… I have never been on a guided trip like this so I have no idea.
(here we go) 
JC,
Do you mean the Guide should get min. 10% of the day rate just for showing up ??
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:a2e6a]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:a2e6a]
If my guide put forth no effort and I didn’t learn anything - and it just seemed like he wanted the day to end soon - I probably wouldn’t leave a tip. If my guide did everything he did to teach me new presentations, or to try and get me over fish, and stayed late to try and find me a hatch, etc - I’d go about 15% or more.
Brian 
[url=http://bowcrow.tripod.com:51b68]Bowcrow Fishing Adventures[/url:51b68]
A tip of 25% or more is not unheard of, if you have the money to burn and your guide does an excellent job. 10-15% is average. Obviously, if your guide is no good then don’t tip em’. You not catching fish does not always mean your guide is not good.
I agree with Benjo. The guides I have fished with have been very entertaining, extremely hard working and very knowledgable. We usually make arrangements with the guide that we will supply lunch and whatever beverages he wants. Have always had a blast. But, just because you don’t catch fish or alot of them does not mean the guide is not working his tail off. Guide usually gets $60-$75.
I’ve discussed this with a lot of people in both the hunting and fishing context. Part of my tipping decision, and that of a number of friends, turns on who is receiving it. If the guide is an owner/operator, then he is getting his money in the nominal rate charged. If the actual guide in the field with me is a hired hand, he is only getting a cut of the daily fee, and is more dependant on tips. Thus, we are more inclined to tip hired hands more than the owner/operator. I guess it’s based on a presumed need and the compensation scheme between the owner and hired hand that assumes that the hired hand will receive tips as supplements. It also turns on who provides the personal service/does the work. On hunts outside the US, for example, we give the tip money directly to the hired help, we don’t let the bosses get a hand on any of it or depend upon them to distribute it down the chain. If I speak with a owner/operator guide, book with him, see him at dinner, but never get any field service because I am with a hired hand of his, it is highly unlikely that I would determine he earned the tip.
That does not mean that I would not tip an owner/operator well if he does a great job and is actually providing service in the field, it is just the starting point.
Things get more complicated in a pooling situation, such as AK lodges sometimes do, where all tips may be placed in a pool and be split among the field guides, chef, waiting staff, etc. who are itinerant labor working there for the season.
[This message has been edited by Rawthumb (edited 18 April 2005).]
My feelings are if the guide works for a shop I tip 20-25%. If he is the boat owner in business for himself and getting all the monies for the trip I don’t tip.
…I would agree w/ Christopher. If I have an
average day with an average guide giving an average effort(you’ll know it if you experience it)I would be hard pressed to even go 10%…so I wouldn’t assume a minimum.
I had great experience with a guide last weekend. Fishing was tough and we worked for every hook up we got…but he stayed right there with me…
End of the day the float cost me $200…I tipped him $40…and for his efforts I thought that was fair. Go with your gut, you’ll know whats right.
Brookid