Matt -
Here are several extracts on guiding and tipping that I copied from another fly fishing forum that I participate on. These were written several years ago by a HIGHLY experienced and respected former guide (retired now) and outdoor writer. I believe they are still pertinent today.
“Tipping a fly fishing guide has been controversial from the get go. There's just so many factors. Here's a few.
-- Is the guide working hard and going the extra mile to make the day the best ever for you? Tip him well. Well being 15% -– 20%. If he's hung over, a slug, ornery, or just plain bad, don't give him any tip.
-- Does the guide work for a shop or Outfitter? If yes, the amount he gets from the trip is likely half of what you pay. Also, he may have to pay for your lunch, the flies you break off, and the shuttle. He may also be paying for insurance, fuel and added wear and tear on his vehicle, and many other factors.”
“There are some large differences between guides and the trades.
In Montana, unless you are an Outfitter, you don't set prices. In Montana, an Independent Contractor guide, cannot, by law, advertise his services unless it's in conjunction with a State licensed Outfitter. He cannot, by law, guide anyone except through an Outfitter.
He is, essentially, an employee who has no employee benefits. He pays his own workman's comp etc. No plumber has those sorts of restrictions.
I know of no plumber who is going to instruct his clients how to do the work he's doing without him.
I don't know how tipping started with guides any more than I know how it started with barbers. I agree that wait staff work hard and put up with bullshit I'd never tolerate, but a waitress isn't tasked with transporting the customers in various vehicles in a variable environment. She doesn't have to know CPR or how to extract a wooly bugger from a clients neck. She doesn't instruct people.
A plumber isn't responsible for the well being of his customer. A plumber's #1 job isn't the customer's safety. A guides #1 job isn't to rack up numbers. If his client drowns, the clients spouse isn't going to be comforted by "Yeah he's dead but he caught these really nice rainbows!"
“Guides in Montana are sometimes employees, but mostly they work as sub-contractors to outfitters. They have to have an IC license, but they are not allowed to solicit clients independent of the outfitter. The outfitter sets the price of trip, not the IC guide. The guide can only negotiate his daily rate to the outfitter, but all outfitters I worked for paid the same rate to every guide regardless of experience.
For the most part, this was how the money part worked out:
Example: Cost of trip for 2 anglers — $500
Guides pay for the trip $250
Other costs.
— lunches - outfitter, but often I would make the lunches and the outfitter would reimburse me for them.
— shuttles - outfitter
— flies, tippet, snacks, drinks, extra rods, reels, etc - guide
— driftboat and/or raft - guide
— fuel, vehicle expenses, maintenance - guide
— guide license, $2 million liability insurance, commercial vehicle insurance, IC license, CPR and First Aid recertification — guide
Most years I would guide ~ 125 days.
Most days began ~ 0400 tying flies. On average I estimate I'd go through 2—3 dozen/day. I'd then deal with lunches and meet my clients around 0800.
For Blackfoot trips that meant a 2 hour drive. For the MO it was closer to an hour.
I'd typically got off the river around 7 PM, then dropped off the anglers and drove home.
I'd wash my boat, eat and hit the rack, typically around 10-11pm.
I loved guiding but it doesn't take a CPA to figure out you don't get rich doing it.
Should the angler have to supplement the guides income with tips? No, but I'm showing you what my reality as a guide looked like.
I'm showing the $500 paid to the outfitter isn't $500 in the pocket of the guide. Not even close.”
John
