Guiding: Payment

Fees for a guided day of fishing are as variable as the weather. The cost of the trip is influenced by a number of factors, the most influential being location. Your location is also relevant to the type of currency used; always remember to keep the exchange rate in mind when planning a trip outside your own country. No matter where in the world you are fishing, a market rate for a guided trip will exist. Fees will usually range within a hundred dollars or so from one guide to another, within the same region. Most guides or outfitters require a deposit to hold the dates open that you have requested. In the case you can’t fulfill your obligation it is at the guide’s discretion whether or not you will be refunded. Although Guiding is a service based industry, the question of whether or not to tip a guide is one that surfaces frequently. The first question you should ask yourself, is tipping customary where I am fishing? If so, consider what is being used to tip with, it may not always be money. Depending on where you are it might be an insult to offer the guide any amount of money over the agreed upon price of the trip. In certain countries guides may expect a few of the fish you caught during your outing, or some universal creature comforts such as chocolate, tobacco or coffee. Wherever you travel to fish keep these thoughts in mind as you do so, being cognizant of other cultures customs and traditions is an integral part of your overall experience.