How Much Should You Tip a Guide?

There are many schools of thought regarding how much you should tip a guide.  Most of folks feel that 20% is a good tip for a waiter. A fishing guide will no doubt work harder for you and his skill level is usually much higher.  The guide doesn’t have several tables full of folks to take care of.  His complete and devoted attention is directed solely at you.  So, many people also feel that 20% is a good tip for a fly fishing guide.

You should take the pure experience of your day in account.  If this is your once a year trip and you feel like have been hanging out with one of your buddies all day… a devoted buddy who has given you many great tips and advice, been generous with his flies and just made the day outstanding… then he needs a good tip.

When you think about the amount of money that the guide may receive from who he works for… and consider the gas, flies, your lunch, equipment, the time that it takes to prepare properly for a day with you on the river, etc… the guide really doesn’t get to keep all that he’s paid. I believe that a good rule of thumb is a round number of at least $50. It is a good tip any guide will be smiling.  I say this number because it probably covers his expenses and the money that he made is money in his pocket.  A $100 tip is like saying, “man I will never forget this, I am telling all my friends and thanks for doing everything right.”

Fishing is good on the San Juan year round.  However, guiding is seasonal.  The number of trips decreases significantly for the guides during the winter.  What they’ve made to this point must last them until spring.

Also, take in account how hard the guide works for you.  If your guide has re-rigged 30 times for you without blinking an eye, explained how and where to cast, positioned the boat properly, etc. he deserves a good tip.  Also, if you leave knowing how you will approach the river on your own give the guy a great tip.

You shouldn't base your tip solely on the number of fish you caught.  There are so many factors that affect catching fish on a fly that your guide has absolutely no control over.  The best guides on earth occasionally have a low-catch day.  Base your tip on how hard he works for you and how much effort, skill and knowledge that he used in trying to help you catch fish.

Most of all... just have fun fishing.

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