I will take a stab at this for you since I am an independent guide and have been for many years:

Tipping: Tipping has been a traditional part of using charters and guide services for many many years. The typical tip is the same as waitress or other personal service occupations....10-15% and is pretty much based on how you perceive the quality of the service you received. Now having said that, let me say how I perceive tipping from this guide's point of veiw: If you as my client feel I worked hard for you and tried my best to provide you with the service you indicated to me that you wanted...ie...caught fish, learned something specific you wanted to learn etc...and you can afford to tip..then the tip is certainly appreciated. I understand that some of my clients cannot afford to tip....they save up money just to be able to afford the trip....and I certainly do not feel slighted if I am not tipped....I also understand that some folks do not tip me nor anyone ....including waitresses etc....that is part of life. Some follks are not aware of the tradition of tipping guides....that is part of life. I set my rates so that my business will not fail from lack of tipping...but of course I will accept tips if offered, especially since my rates have gone up less than 10% over the past 5 years and my biggest expenses (fuel, tackle and maintenance) have gone up well over 100 % during the same time period.

Maps and GPS: This will vary from guide to guide. Most guides do allow gps or maps in their boats. You will actually see this on their advertisements (websites included). Some guides will allow maps and gps. But, it is always prudent of you to ask before hand if you can bring one or both of these with you...whether or not you are getting in a boat with a guide or anyone else that you don't know intimately. For myself, I do not care if you bring a gps for each hand and a stack of maps with you....but I know some guides that would put you on shore if you did that....so ask up front or you may have a problem.

The best things that you can do before going out with any guide:

1. Get references. I don't mean ask the guide for references....you really don't expect the guide to refer you to anyone for a reference that might give them a negative recommedation do you? Ask the local tackle shops and folks that you know have been out with them before etc. Internet discussion boards like this one or other sites that are targeting the type fish you are after are good places to get some feedback on the guide also.....if you don't want to ask a question like that on the internet board...just do a discussion board search on the guides name or business name. If learning is more important to you than just catching fish, try to find out from those sources recommendations for the guide that can and will teach you what you want to know.

2. Be realistic in your expectations: No guide goes out and loads the boat with big fish or big numbers of fish every day anymore than KVD does or Superman does...lol. But you can learn from the guide if he is knowledgeable and is willing to teach you...and most guides are willing to do this, just some more than others. I encourage you to ask questions.....if you don't ask the question, I can't read your mind and may not answer your question through out the course of the day. On the other hand, don't expect to learn more than is possible in one trip...lol. Example: I teach a class here in the winter about how to eliminate water to find the highest percentage spots for bass on any lake or river during all the seasons of the year....this class takes approximately 6 hours of intense learning in a class room...don't expect me to be able to teach you that while we are out in the boat trying to catch fish....lol....but on the other hand, I can tell you why we are fishing where we are that day and show you techniques to catch the fish that day and talk to you about the decisions I am making to come to that conclusion etc.....

3. Most important: Talk to your guide before trip...preferably before you book with him. Let the guide know exactly what you want to get out of the trip and ask them how they will go about trying to provide what you want. If you are wanting to learn say, how to fish a ledges, let the guide know that is what your intent is....if you just tell the guide that you want to catch fish...that is what he is going to do...try to put you on some fish and he may not even fish a ledge that day because the better bite is on a different pattern right now.....in the same respect, if you are wanting to learn how to fish ledges and the best pattern is not ledges that day, don't get upset if you don't catch a bunch of fish because the guide has you out on ledges trying to teach you. Basically, a little discussion between you and the guide before the trip will allow you to find out what to expect and give the guide the information he needs to know to allow him to try to meet your expections.

If you have any questions you would like to ask me personally...I have no problem with your calling me or anyone else calling me....fishing is my business...bass fishing that is...and I love to talk about it.