Tipping A Guide

[Zack Hoyt]

I'm new to the forum and from Montana so my opinion on the subject don't mean much, but here it goes. Most guides in Montana generally expect a tip ranging from 50 to 75 dollars or more for fishing trips.Some guides deserve it some don't. If your getting yelled at by your guide all the time to mend your line or that your doing everything wrong or if he tells you you're an idiot everytime you backcast into a tree right after he tells you to watch your backcast don't tip him (I've seen this and much worse). He's more concerned with how good he thinks he is and less concerned with whether or not you're having a good time. If you get a guide that will backrow 10 times over a hole so you can keep catching fish or will stand there and help you learn something or explain why you should do this or that a certain way and will give you a good to great memory to take home with you, you should tip him. Contrary to popular belief a fishing guide doesn't make a lot of money at least not here in Montana. Guides here do about 90 to 120 trips a year at about $225 a trip minus the shuttle which is $25 a trip sometimes 3 times a day if the water is running really fast. They also pay for a motel or rent of some kind which is about $50 a night plus the guides here tie or pay half price for the flies that their client will be using. I personally went through 300 dozen flies last year. If a guide didn't tie his own that's $3,600. Then you got gas and food plus the cost of insurance, the guide license and the Boat. Then you have to pay good ol' Uncle Sam taxes and then pay him again for a yearly parking pass. These are just a few expenses that we have to pay here in Montana. Personally I take people fishing just to see the smile on their face when they catch a fish. I don't care about tips, seeing clients enjoying themselves is tip enough.

Thanks for letting me ramble

Eric

I agree and welcome to the forum and the area. Discussion can go back and forth. I view guides like a waiter.....I have had horrible ones, and I have had great ones. The horrible ones make me want to reward to great ones.

Professionalism cannot be bought, but it can be rewarded.

You have guides and you have boat drivers. It's what happens between catching fish that determines how you feel after the trip. How you feel after the trip determines which of the previous two you paid for.

[Njardar]

I'm not surprised he had an extra wading staff -- he's a real Boy Scout when it comes to being prepared. How did the other two do? Are they hooked now?

I'm packing my stuff tonight -- we'll be there (Estes) Saturday afternoon.

One caught five the other seven, I think Mike would be hooked if he had the money so I will keep my eye out for any deals I can snatch up for him. His brother did not seem as enthusiastic to go again.

Good luck and have a great time!

- Charlie

PS Simms wading staffs are just inside the door at Kirks