In fly fishing, and in our culture in general, tipping is expected for many direct services. On top of payment, gratuity is part of the transaction. It is a way to thank the professional. It is a way to compliment quality service. And it is a way to round out that person’s compensation.
However, a new angler may balk at the idea of tipping after he has the sticker shock that comes with seeing how much a guided trip costs. Yet the very same person wouldn’t object to tipping on a very expensive steak and bottle of wine.
So how much should a tip on a guided trip be?
Generally speaking, 15 to 20 percent is a good place to start. But why? And what about a trip that doesn’t yield many (or any) fish? But aren’t guides already expensive?
Here are five ways to think about tipping your fly fishing guide:
Fish in the boat shouldn’t necessarily correlate into cash in the hand. Of course, everyone expects to catch fish when out with a guide. It is reasonable to think that you’ll catch a lot of fish when you are going with a professional. But, and this should be obvious, there is no human on this planet that can factor in every unseen environmental variable and read the mind of fish. Even the fishiest guides can and do get skunked. While you might leave a great tip for a great day filled with great quantities of fish, you should still leave a good tip for a great effort that yields no or few fish.
A guide’s effort ought to be measured in more areas than simply fish. Other benefits may include casting tips, local history, insight into reading water, and a tasty shore lunch. No one expects these facets to detract from the pursuit of fish. Good guides can do both and do both well. Being a good angler doesn’t automatically translate into being a good communicator. Leaving a trip feeling encouraged and empowered to get on the water again is the mark of a skilled guide. Tipping takes these valuable aspects into account.
If there is an outfitter or the fly shop are going to take their cut. There is nothing wrong with a guide working for or through a shop. It is usually a mutually beneficial relationship in a number of ways. But it also means that 25 to 50 percent of the upfront fee you paid isn’t going to the person who spent the day with you.
A good tip isn’t a lot, in the grand scheme of things. I’m sure you’ve seen someone (or been that person) who goes back and forth about leaving a $3 versus a $4 tip for a breakfast at a diner. It is a ridiculous situation. If you think about leaving an extra dollar: leave an extra dollar. Extrapolate that out to a $500 half-day trip. If you’re debating between a $75 tip and a $100 tip, $25 extra is the way to go. I’m not saying that $25 or $50 is negligible. But if you’re already in for hundreds, you should be prepared to spend what is appropriate.
Like it or not, this is the world we live in. “I don’t believe in tipping.” Okay. But not believing in something doesn’t mean it isn’t real, customary, or legitimate. In virtually all service industries in the United States, tips are part of the transactional nature of provider/client relationship. You might have moral or philosophical objections. There is a lot to be said about economic theories and compensation models. But the local bartender or fly fishing guide isn’t the one who should feel the consequences of your one-man crusade.
Be a good client. Be a generous customer. Be a good part of the fly fishing community. Be a good tipper.