Do you tip a guide who doesn’t put you on the bite? (Page 3): Depends. First time I fished lake fork in Texas I hired a guide. Me and my son showed up and the guide showed after we...

Chuck56 Loc: Texas

Depends. First time I fished lake fork in Texas I hired a guide. Me and my son showed up and the guide showed after we were there for about 20 minutes. Boat was 18 ft long, not really big enough for 3 people. We took off going pretty fast across fork, which is ok if you know that lake well enough. We hit 1 stump going about 20 mph, so I guess he learned his lesson , chipped his gel coat. When we fished, he stayed at the front of the boat the entire time, even though my son informed him that his trolling motor was the exact same as the guides motor and could handle it. The guide declined. He also nosed the boat in numerous tight spots and in 1 spot he ( guide) caught a nice 7#. I ended catching 1 bass about 2-1/2# and my son caught 2 about 2 pounds each... long story short, it was the guides job to put me and my son on the good fish. He did not. I paid him to fish, and he did good himself. So no tip. He still guides there and I won’t say his name but be careful , check the guide out if you can other than his website....

Sugarfoot Loc: South Carolina

Good plan. Best of luck and success. Lucky man.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Sugarfoot wrote:

I agree. The guide can't control the fish. If you'... (show quote)

You say that they have all these experiences.... so what does the $250 per head cover? Most guides I’ve known won’t go out unless they have 3 or 4 clients on board. We’re talking $750-$1000. 100 days like that will buy a pretty nice boat...🐟on

hemihappy Loc: pawleys island s.c.

The idea of being a guide means making decisions that may affect the day, cold front moved in, he knows the day is going to be difficult to catch fish and should really cancel. If a guide puts you on fish and you have a great day I say tip him, if not well I wouldn't tip him. He got his money up front to cover his expenses. His tip would be you signing up with him again even though you got skunked today. Also guides have the knowledge and ability to put you on some kind of fish if the main target is not hitting. Everything changes when you are going for lifetime fish. If you don't get a great sailfish well that happens and is not the guides fault. Tough being a guide and even tougher getting a great reputation. I have 5 great friends that are guides and they work together by radio. They get the job done usually.

HarryS Loc: NJ

I always tip in a restaurant since a large part of their salary is on tips. If the service is good 20% if not so good 10%. A guide is making a good payday upfront. Two days and no fish, maybe a token of $10 or $20, not 20% of the total two-day guide trip. If you paid $250 per day a 20% tip would be another $100.

hemihappy Loc: pawleys island s.c.

Another thing to watch on guides make sure they have a Captains license so they are trained to handle emergency situations. Make sure they are fully insured. Make sure the boat you will go out on will handle the water your going on. Do not put a banana in your lunch.

CoDen Loc: Little R, SC

Capt Dink wrote:

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.

Capt Dink where you from?

1940 Loc: Arlington wa

1940 Westport wa no fish no tip flaying yes

Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast

Mauwehu wrote:

My wife had business in New Hampshire and asked me... (show quote)

The reason to hire a guide was ? Did it happen? Why tip? I have a real hard time tipping for services not rendered.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Foodfisher wrote:

The reason to hire a guide was ? Did it happen? Why tip? I have a real hard time tipping for services not rendered.

Yeah me too...I never got tipped for all the work I did. I just got a wage, just like anybody that has a job. Why do some get tipped and some of us don’t? Don’t we all provide a service? JMO...🐟on

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

DozerDave wrote:

Yeah me too...I never got tipped for all the work I did. I just got a wage, just like anybody that has a job. Why do some get tipped and some of us don’t? Don’t we all provide a service? JMO...🐟on

I delivered kitchen cabinets for ten years. I looked at a tip as a sign of respect. They respected me for respecting their home. Sometimes people would request service beyond the norm. Most would tip when they asked for extra service.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

DozerDave wrote:

Yeah me too...I never got tipped for all the work I did. I just got a wage, just like anybody that has a job. Why do some get tipped and some of us don’t? Don’t we all provide a service? JMO...🐟on

I've personally known more than one waitress, and the fact of the matter is, that they DO get an hourly wage, BUT, it is BELOW minimum wage for the rest of us. (Barmaids might be in the same boat.) Waitresses, though, for sure; DON'T get ,"normal minimum wage"... I remember "learning" (that is to say, at least 1 chef-owner said on TV) that the owner-opperator expects no tip, if the people are aware that he is, in fact the owner.

TommyD1225 Loc: Indiana Wolcottville

To me a tip is a gesture of appreciation if he did everything he could to get you on some fish I would tip him. If he was a “they just aren’t biting guy” I’d keep the money in my pocket.

TripleP51

Been with a guide four times. No such thing as a guarantee catch. They supplied bait an tackle an took my son an I where fish SHOULD be. I guess though judging how well one does might determine how much. Still whether we caught only a couple an truly slayed them we did tip.

MrJohn Loc: Roseville, MN

The 10+ guided trips I’ve been on have been 100%+ successful. The most recent was about 5 years ago with the MN Fishing Legend “The Griz.” My 2 sons & I + The Griz caught & released 100+ sauger & kept enough for a meal. If skunked it would be a minimal tip! If I learned some new tricks from the guide it would be a little better than minimal.