Tipping at lodges

[Deleted member 8461]

As an observation, when I was guiding in 1983 as a kid at 17yrs old...my day wage and tips were approximately the same as what most of these guides are getting for the exact same hard days work, today. Sad really. If your guide is good, fun, friendly and helpful, then they deserve every bit of the gratuity and more in the value of service that was provided. Don't be cheap, be fair.

 

[ericl]

Tugcaptain' greatest post I have read in a long time. I think the way this was dealt with is awesome.

 

[goitzy]

If your guide is good, fun, friendly and helpful, then they deserve every bit of the gratuity and more in the value of service that was provided. Don't be cheap, be fair.

100% agree

 

[Che]

If you can't afford the tip, you really can't afford the trip.

Most people can't afford these trips. These places cost thousands of dollars to visit. For a lot of people, they're trips of a lifetime. But we have those who are of the means that they can afford to go annually, if not twice a year, to some of these places. But if you're some fella, who's saved up for a few years to go on a trip like this, maybe won the trip in a raffle, or whatever else, the reality is you can't afford the trip.

These fishing lodges are very expensive for what they are. A lot of people have distorted concepts of fishing because they can afford to go to a lodge every now and then. When someone can afford to go to these lodges once a year, or however often, they have a lot of disposable income. That means they can afford to hand out lots of tips. That's where this expectation for tips comes from, because these lodges are catering to those people who are of means. If a guest is not from the same background? They're going to have a lesser experience because of it.

I'd love to go to one of these lodges, and wouldn't have a problem tipping the guides and lodge staff. But I know that the clientele they're seeking are the types who have the ability to pay extra money for a 'better' experience. That would just sour the experience for me. I tend not to like people who are cavalier with their money, and people who tip heavy are often of that ilk.

 

[ab1752]

We do standard $50 a head for each 4 hour trip and aim for a full day, no runs back to the lodge so that's $100 a day to the guide, per person, or an extra $200 in cash per day. This is the minimum level and if you have a particularly awesome day than an extra $100 will head the guide's way.

Be mindful that while you may be paying the lodge the final bill, many guides are contractors running their own rigs so tip them directly as opposed to through the lodge.

 

[Gong Show]

If I took all the money I spend on boat maintenance, insurance, trailer, diesel, gas, ramp fees, downriggers and associated fishing gear, I could go to a full on lodge every month!
I just would not enjoy it as much as they way I do it now with my buddies.
Luckily we can all do what we want and budget accordingly.

 

[spoiler]

This is one area where American fishermen in Canada kick our asses, well, except for people from Washington haha! (When you travel abroad you realize we as Canadians have a bad rep in the tipping department)
When the fish master and senior guides went through the list of guests to see who would get who, we remembered what happened in years past. Crappy tippers never got a shot at the top guides again. Unknown guests from Canada or Washington, or known cheap skates went to the junior guides. I know it’s an awful generalization, but it also seemed true more often than not (That being said some of the best guests were from Washington, but so were a lot of the worst). I’m not saying the way we dealt with it was right, it’s just how it was.
Those who were nice guys and tipped well went straight to the top guides. Their names were looked forward to every year, and you busted your butt and went every extra mile. You always did really, but there was always an extra gear for top guests.
There were a few exceptions, return guests who were so nice and enthusiastic and clearly barely scratched up enough dough to come up, they usually got their guide too through attitude alone, but it was rare.

20 years ago in the Charlottes for two guys on a 3 or 4 days trip, less than $200 CDN was very disappointing. $200 US was ok. $400-500 of either denomination was good, and $1000 was special.

At our lodge the guides and lodge staff were tipped separately.

I have been fortunate that through my work I have usually done 1-3 trips a year with either my company or a supplier picking up the bill. Since I don't have to pay for the trip I like to bring plenty of cash for tipping. The guides and lodge workers work their asses off just to provide us with an unforgettable experience and I think they deserve it. A lot of the guides I have met over the years are super guys and for the most part I still stay in touch with them and have made some great friends. You have to remember that regardless of what area you are fishing there are going to be days when the fishing is poor. this is when a great guide can still make your experience memorable because of his personality! I find that most guides share the same passion I do for fishing so there's always plenty to talk about when the fish aren't biting. Last year I was fortunate enough to go to Hakai Pass, Milbanke Sound and Newton Cove and every one of those lodges were terrific!

 

[fishin_magician]

I tried so hard to keep my mouth shut on this thread...and some will notice I haven't had much to say the last few months...but I'll tell you that Tugcaptain's post was a good one. Well said.

Most of the self guided guys don't catch sweet f all yet expect the "guides" to spill out all the information on how to fish certain spots and where they found the fish or know the fish are. Those are the ones I have no problem walking past on the dock or pretending I don't see when running back to the lodge about how many fish were "over yonder". I also have no problem cheaping out on fuel when I run my charters for those people too.

There's a lot of truth on this thread and a lot of BS.....and I've given up trying to educate those who "don't get it".
The best guides spent a lot of time becoming the best. It's not "accident".

If someone wants to spend $X per day to catch "B" amount of fish...that's fine. But if you want to catch "B times 3" fish....and experience what you really could experience...that's up to you....but don't expect it for free. Why on earth would someone for someone who isn't grateful or appreciative? You want the best steak....but you want to pay McDonalds 2 for 1 prices on crap?

For those balking at the tip suggestions/recommendations of guides on here... I'll tell you that lodges are still paying the SAME rates at 25 years ago. If you factor in inflation and all the rest of that....guides are making peanuts. If you find tipping to the mid-upper levels suggested here to be excessive...I advocate that you contact the lodges and get them to pay their guides reasonable money at overtime rates....then pay the extra $ when you buy your trip so you don't have to tip. Good luck with that.

Let's just talk about some ******** terms of employment at certain lodges:

1. Signing an overtime waiver. You make a set rate of $X per day or $X per billable hour. Lodges do this.
2. Unpaid hours worked...."in the terms of employment". It's called an "expectation". Something wrong with that.
3. Service your own boat...your labour hours are free.
4. Disbursement of tip guide tip pools is "delayed" while they earn interest on your money and the process isn't transparent and not done by a neutral 3rd party. One lodge does this. What a joke.
5. Monthly or Bi-Weekly Payroll which puts you in the highest possible tax bracket. wait until tax time to get your dollars back...maybe......but I never benefitted from a refund as I always had to work.
6. Having to pay $X for lodging and food. That happens to be against the law....depending on how it is administered.


Let's think of this a different way...at a lodge...a guide isn't really an employee---he's a contractor. Let's suppose your furnace or Hot Water Tank f's up and you can't deal with it yourself...$149.99-$179.95 for a call out and diagnostic. Go to a dealership because your car has a driveability issue? $179.95-$229.95 minimum charge plus tax for diagnostic....whether is takes 5 minutes or 1 hour.

What I'm saying is very simple...a good guide will put you on all the fish he can and treat you like gold...reward him for it and he'll take care of you....

I'll tell you that few lodges actually treat their guides like princes.....let's keep that straight...and guides aren't getting rich. That's why the lodges keep hiring so many kids...under 25 years old.

 

[scott craven]

If someone wants to spend $X per day to catch "B" amount of fish...that's fine. But if you want to catch "B times 3" fish....and experience what you really could experience...that's up to you....but don't expect it for free. Why on earth would someone for someone who isn't grateful or appreciative? You want the best steak....but you want to pay McDonalds 2 for 1 prices on crap?

What a pile of crap, what do you think people pay for to go to these places,
to catch no fish ?
have you forgotten the cost of the trip at (approx$ 5-6 K)
do you tip your plumber ?

 

[ziggy]

Wow, this whole thread sure doesn’t make me want to book a trip at a lodge. Sounds like they charge through the teeth and then underpay their staff and treat them horribly.

 

[Dogbreath]

Sounds like they charge through the teeth and then underpay their staff and treat them horribly.

Then try to make guests feel bad if they don't subsidise the staff's lousy wages-classic passive/aggressive behaviour.

 

[Che]

Let's just talk about some ******** terms of employment at certain lodges:

Would love to know what kind of bull spit the lodges have to put up with dealing with primadonna guides and their egos.

I'm trying to form the ideas in my head in to words here, so forgive me if I don't phrase it correctly. But, I think part of your wage is the fact you're up there fishing. Myself, I hate my job (and it's a good one.) I wish I could just go fishing every day. But I need to pay my mortgage, save for retirement, pay my taxes, etc. So I don't quit my job. That's the reality most people face. So to sit here, reading this thread with a bunch of guides talking about the fact they're not getting enough tips for 'all the hard work' they do out there? Give your head a shake. Look at what you're doing for work and where youre working. Perhaps a few spoonfuls of reality might sweeten that bitter outlook.

 

[scott craven]

Would love to know what kind of bull spit the lodges have to put up with dealing with primadonna guides and their egos.

I'm trying to form the ideas in my head in to words here, so forgive me if I don't phrase it correctly. But, I think part of your wage is the fact you're up there fishing. Myself, I hate my job (and it's a good one.) I wish I could just go fishing every day. But I need to pay my mortgage, save for retirement, pay my taxes, etc. So I don't quit my job. That's the reality most people face. So to sit here, reading this thread with a bunch of guides talking about the fact they're not getting enough tips for 'all the hard work' they do out there? Give your head a shake. Look at what you're doing for work and where youre working. Perhaps a few spoonfuls of reality might sweeten that bitter outlook.

This is so true...

 

[trophywife]

Would love to know what kind of bull spit the lodges have to put up with dealing with primadonna guides and their egos.

I'm trying to form the ideas in my head in to words here, so forgive me if I don't phrase it correctly. But, I think part of your wage is the fact you're up there fishing. Myself, I hate my job (and it's a good one.) I wish I could just go fishing every day. But I need to pay my mortgage, save for retirement, pay my taxes, etc. So I don't quit my job. That's the reality most people face. So to sit here, reading this thread with a bunch of guides talking about the fact they're not getting enough tips for 'all the hard work' they do out there? Give your head a shake. Look at what you're doing for work and where youre working. Perhaps a few spoonfuls of reality might sweeten that bitter outlook.

you would change your attitude after working for ungrateful customers, it is a job,, and reel work. dont kid yourself.

 

[Che]

you would change your attitude after working for ungrateful customers, it is a job,, and reel work. dont kid yourself.

An excellent pun. Well played sir, well played.

But as I still say that part of the wage is the lifestyle and being able to go fishing for 'work'. No doubt it's hard work. Long hours, days with no fish, dealing with ungrateful demanding clients, and the list surely goes on and on. But that's the job, and its not a high paying one because part of the wage is the lifestyle.

 

[Tugcapitan]

Would love to know what kind of bull spit the lodges have to put up with dealing with primadonna guides and their egos.
Myself, I hate my job (and it's a good one.) I wish I could just go fishing every day. But I need to pay my mortgage, save for retirement, pay my taxes, etc. So I don't quit my job. That's the reality most people face. So to sit here, reading this thread with a bunch of guides talking about the fact they're not getting enough tips for 'all the hard work' they do out there? Give your head a shake. Look at what you're doing for work and where youre working. Perhaps a few spoonfuls of reality might sweeten that bitter outlook.

Too funny, exactly the guest I’d love to guide

By that logic, you’re lucky enough to go golfing with a caddy, and give him $10 after 18 holes. Never mind the fact he’s sharing his intimate knowledge of the course, and tailoring his advice to match up with your game. Being personable and making sure he finds all of your errant shots while encouraging you for the next one. Maybe he gives you a swing tip? Oh, and he never gets to take a shot either, but hey, we get to walk a golf course together, that’s hardly working at all right? Look at this beautiful course man, you’re just lucky to work here!
I don’t think he even liked that $10!! Ugh, prima dona caddies.
Lol

 

[Che]

By that logic, you’re lucky enough to go golfing with a caddy,

I don't golf, but I have watched Caddyshack. So I've got that going for me. Which is nice.

The issue here that OP brought up, is that this is a hidden cost. OP was wondering: what is the expected tip? From this thread, it seems the expected tip is $50/person/day minimum with $100/person/day being more common. So a client should be budgeting for that.

I think the disconnect here is between client and guide. Where the client is paying a fair chunk of change for a service, and has a certain expectation for that money. Guides are quite passionate about fishing, and love getting their clients on to lots of fish so they have a good time, but expect to be paid for their time and effort. So maybe it's not so much a tip as it is a premium. The best guides expect a premium for their service, and those clients who don't pay that premium aren't welcome.

But, guides should never lose sight of what they're actually doing out there. Fishing in some of the most beautiful locations where people pay thousands of dollars just for a couple days there.

 

[ILHG]

Tanks again for all the input.

I just want to take a minute to make it clear that I am not objected to tipping guides & want to tip fairly which is why I started this thread. I didn't know what the going rate or current "Norm" was. Like all topics there are view points from each end of the spectrum & I value each view point.

Some of the feedback has made me evaluate a lodge vs a owner/operator charter operation for future trips...

I' not trying to open a can of worms here but I don' find it fair that a guide at a lodge would have the same or more NET pay at the end of a trip as an owner operator guide. It' the owner operator who has all the overhead and risk with buying and maintaining the boat. If a guide got $100/day cash that' the equivalent of ~$140/d or more of equivalent taxable income. Add to that $200/d from lodge and it' not bad considering they don't have expenses of an owner operator charter. So once you start talking about $200/d cash tips that's agian about $280 equivalent of taxable income. Add that to the $200/d rate and you are equivalent to $480/d. (Hope that made sence)

I struggle to see how a charter owner operator makes ~$500 a trip after expenses. Maybe if he is booked solid and has his fixed expenses covered.

Agian, not stirring the pot. Just a persprective

 

[trophywife]

go with owner operated or sub contracted guides... non of that lodge begrudges me of a fair wage bs.

 

[advTHXance]

At our lodge typically it's wake up at 6 and head to the dock for 630 or 645. Fish from 7-12, then bring the guests in for lunch, clean fish, tie gear, wash boat, grab a quick sandwich and then get back to the dock for 130. Fish 2-7 and then clean fish, wash boat, tie gear, fix any issues, gas up and then eat dinner. By this time it's often 8 or 830. Twice a week theres a meet and greet night where you have to dress up and socialize with the guests and those nights tend to run late. Rinse and repeat for 3 months straight with 0 days off and a less than ideal amount of sleep.

Yes it's just fishing and I do love what I do, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it. With that said it's not all sunshine and roses. For those 10 hours on the boat you not only have to produce fish, but also entertain and educate. Sometimes the guests try your patience. Most days it pisses rain and the wind howls and the swells pound your boat and body. Expectations are always high and for the greedier guests a full tub is never good enough. If you're picky about your gear like I am, you spend hundreds or even thousands on tackle and rods/reels. You're also away from friends, family and pets for those 3 months.

Hopefully that provides a little insight on what it's like to guide at a lodge and why gratuities are encouraged if not mandatory.

Didn't have time to read any of this topic beyond the first few posts because I have to go dress up and entertain for another 2 hours tonight. Free pool lessons beginning at 1030 tonight!