Hi Jim, In fishing catalogs...

Question
Hi Jim,  In fishing catalogs I see trips offered to places like Alaska, Chile, Russia, etc. and the price is given like "3500 dollars for seven days."   I don't know if you can generalize but are guides included in most lodge fees?  I presume any tips would be extra.  What would a typical tip be for a guide per day?  Thanks

Answer
Some do and some do not. Affordable Alaska Charters in Alaska charges $999.00 for 7 days and includes 3 guided trips. Other lodges do not include guide trips.
Example.. Green Island Lodge includes a boat and motor and good advice on where to fish and with what. However a guide is $90.00 US per day extra.. That is about $150.00 Canadian.
As for tips 15% is a good number but when you are taking 3 guided trips on a $1000 lodge fee.. $150.00 is almost as much as a guide makes. I would say if the going rate is $250 per day then tip the guide around $45.00 or 15% of a guide trip.
It is best to do some research on what the rates are in an area before you go. IF the lodge includes the trip then tip 15% of the local rate for guides. The lodge is paying the guide so the tip should be for the going rate.
Of course if the trip is REALLY good I recommend a 20 to 30% tip..
Personally I like to tip then send the guide something when I get home. Like his favorite fishing reel or some baits he likes. Canadian Guides pay a premium for lures so I will leave some of my better lures for them too. If you go and you dont want to lug a bunch of stuff home.. and it is quality stuff.. leave it for the guide. That is like money to him. I left enough jig heads for my guide last time that he is still using them this year. BUT I knew what he wanted the second year.
If you take a nice Shimano Reel and he admires it.. you can leave that too.. OF course I am EXTREMELY generous to my guides.. I have to be since I do business with most of them. 15% and a fishing reel is plenty, if that is the way you want to go. Otherwise CASH is always a nice bonus.
Jim Dicken