Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

My wife had business in New Hampshire and asked me to go with her. She had to work for two days and the plan was that we would extend the trip for another two. She suggested that I hire a fishing guide for the two days that she was working. I found a guide online and set it up with him. We fished for two days from 6 AM to 2 in the afternoon. Neither of us got a bite. I gave the guy a tip but wondered about it afterward. When I got home the second day I noticed some teenagers fishing on the lake and I tried my luck and caught some trout and rock bass. That was the only time I hired a guide. So tip yes or no?

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

I have never been on a guided trip. That said, it is still fishing not catching. It would seem to me that if the person did a good job and gave you a decent day that you did right to tip him.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I used to think tipping was just a part of doing business. Then I made a friend from Australia. They certainly have a different view down under. I'd probably still tip, but hey, why don't you charge me up front and let's leave it at that?

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

I don’t know what you paid for your guide but I know that they can run between $200-$400 and unless they do an especially outstanding job it’s hard for me to justify an extra tip...but that’s me and my opinion. Let your conscience be your guide...🐟on

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

That’s the point. They have charged you up front. And now they expect a tip...maybe! Depends! We’ll see!...🐟on

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

I think its pretty clear. A TIP is a Thank You for a job well done, or going the extra mile.. A fishing guide can either take you out and tell you "There's the water" or can work with you all day suggesting baits, presentations, locations, etc.. YES you can get skunked any day, any where. Did he do just an OK job not offering any help? Then maybe no tip, he's already been paid. Did he "Go the extra mile", then tip accordingly.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Tough call Mau. 1st day yes, a small percentage. 2nd day either less or nothing. Being skunked is going to happen but for 2 days in a row i would expect at least a bite.

Capt Dink Loc: N J

I always paid my mates up front but they always worked very hard for the customer .I always let the charter know that it was normal to tip the mates 20 percent of the cost of the trip. When they didnt I would cover it. Doesnt matter what you catch ,its what kind of day they the charter had we always made sure they had fun and enjoyed their day that was our job.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Capt Dink, What did you normally pay mates as a base for say a 4hr or 6hr charter. (less tip)?? Just curious..

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

If your guide was really trying to put you on fish , looking for new spots , switch up on lures etc , then yes a tip is deserved .
If he doesn’t change up makes excuses and doesn’t exhibit anything effort to find better fishing , then I’d still tip but severely modified !

whtoak Loc: South Carolina

My opinion: A tip, or gratuity, is given for outstanding service. I personally do not feel OBLIGATED to tip any one any time. I do tip if I feel the service was outstanding, more than expected. I agree on a price for the service before hand. A friend and I did go on a guided fishing trip once with a guide that claimed to be a "professional" fishing guide. We did not catch a fish. The "professional" guide obviously liked to hear himself talk and repeatedly reminded us that he was "the professional". Still not even a bite. I did not feel any obligation to pay him any more than I had agreed to pay. If I hadn't payed him up front as he required, I'd have still payed him even it would have been painful. My neighbor guides on Lake Murray in South Carolina. I asked him about it. He said, "If we don't catch fish, you don't pay." I think any "professional" guide should have a similar policy. Maybe they could state up front that if no fish are caught, there are still expenses of fuel, bait, boat, insurance, etc. and the client would be responsible for at least a portion of that. I would be much more inclined to pay a guide if they had the "No Fish: No pay" policy. And if we really had a blast, I would tip. If the guide simply provided the service that we agreed upon, I would not feel any inclination to tip. How many people "tip" the car salesman? (That's what I thought)

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

This was a one on one trip.Not in a motor boat. Back lakes and ponds. I DID expect to get a bite. The second day I told him I don’t care what I catch. I didn’t know the area. As I said when got back to the hotel I was catching trout and rock bass.
I’ve been on boats on the east coast, Carolinas, Florida and Bermuda that held 15-20 people. Always tipped but always caught fish. They were salt water. Most were well run. One trip with15 guys from church we caught 120 blue fish. They had a guy who cleaned the fish on board before you got back to the dock. The captain was so impressed by the number of fish that we caught that he showed up at our church that Sunday.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

If somebody expects a tip, after NO RESULTS (not just because the waitress "banged" your plate down on the dinner table); then; I'm thinking that our "parting communications" might go something to the effect of: "I've got "a tip for ya" ... "Get a haircut and get a real job!

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Be fair. If you told the guide any kind of fish then no tip. If you told him bass, then the trout and rock bass are insignificant. It is all about the guide going the extra mile to catch fish. I had a couple of clients that got bites all day and still caught no fish. They were in their late nineties. They laughed all day at missed strikes. They wanted to catch a fish on a jig, so we fished jigs. No fish, but I got a great tip. Next day they wanted to take some fish home. We used the circle hooks I suggested and both limited on large fish. I took a group of six out on a day charter salmon fishing. Five fished the gear I suggested, one insisted he had fished all his life and his lure was better than what I suggested and that is what he was going to use. Bottom line 30 silvers brought to the dock. five limits and one skunk. Guess who did not tip and went home disgruntled. Able Man, I thought it was interesting that he told me to get a "real job"

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

Yeah, well; some had told me that, on and off, over the years... That is, until I show up/ a $1,200 ✓ representing the "efforts of" about 3 days of work, or clear $3,200 for heading shrimp for 27 days... BUT; those amounts, were at high end... They really DO call it "fishing" NOT "catching", for a very valid reason!!!