Tips to Gillie's

[johnmac]

sloggi said:

johnmac said:

what is it they say about Aberdeen???

The people are generous?

no.... Aberdeen Aberdeen cannae kick a jelly bean!

[altmor]

sloggi said:

I don't tip - ever. Nobody tips me in my work nor do I tip another worker. It's his or her job - get over it

Shame on you Sloggi, ghilling is more than a job - the rest of us have jobs. Ahh ... but to be a ghillie ... the passion, the freedom and the open air. There again, they seem to have it all - Sloggi, you're maybe onto something here.

[elwyman]

I suppose the reality of the situation is that if gillies didn't get tips then the beat owners would have to pay them more, and the rents would go up - so the anglers would end up paying anyway!

A friendly and helpful gillie deserves a tip, but perhaps not all meet these criteria!

[macsalmo]

Are we talking about tips for a one to one gillie for the day or does this include say a 10 rod beat where one gillie pops around making sure every one is ok etc (thick, stupid, 1/2 Yorkhire 1/2 Scottish etc).

[altmor]

On such a beat, the going rate might be £20.00 from each Yorkshire man, and of the 10 rods, assuming the split was 5 Yorkshire men and 5 Scottish men, the Scotts need not feel compelled to tip.

That way the ghillie still gets his £100.00 per day, but the Scotts would say he's well earned it, since he may have to explain everything twice to the Yorkshire man.

Oops, I realise this may not be terribly "pc", ... so where I refer to Yorkshire men and Scottish men, please include /women after the word men. ;D ;D

[tayspringer]

???What service would you expect to receive from a ghillie in order to consider giving him/her a tip?

As far as service what would you define as service -
"good Morning", set rods up and accompany you to the river?
"Good morning sir- Good Night Sir" (not seen him all day)
"Go fish round there" and then in afternoon "fish over there"

I know that often 1 ghillie has to look after 6 rods but how much time would you expect the ghillie to spend with you say if you were considering tipping?

This is still a very controversial issue. Some still believe it is etiquette others believe it is old fashioned.

The law states the minimum salary that an employer can pay so why do others on the same salary in other vocations not get tipped? This was put to me by a number of anglers.

I work within the public sector and never get tipped. If I accepted a tip I would be sacked!!!!!

[johnny]

Should it not be those that welcome and need the assistance (be it minor tuition and physically shown the beat) should tip and those that are there to fish with the minimum of fuss need not?

[scotia]

johnny said:

Should it not be those that welcome and need the assistance (be it minor tuition and physically shown the beat) should tip and those that are there to fish with the minimum of fuss need not?

What if the difference between them getting a fish or not is down to what the gillie says? Surely the Gillie is there to help his fishers catch?Is his expertise not worth a wee gratuity at the end of the day?

[jock]

There is no correct payment to tip a Ghillie or anyone else for that matter. Any owner of a beat who pays his Ghillies according to what they think they might earn in tips I have no respect for.

When tipping, or not, I take into account, what I can afford, what I think in the circumstances is appropriate and the enjoyment that Ghillie has made to my day.

I suspect the Ghillies do likewise....and possibly aspire, through hard work and reputation to climb the ladder to the best beats.

Why ? Because, therein lies the Holy Grail of the Ghillie, both financial and job wise. Some of the richest and generous pricks on earth have access to some of the best fishing on earth. If you can rise to the challenge of getting a rich prick ( or prickless one), a salmon you'll have cracked it. Plently big bucks, and in the case of the latter....plenty of ......as well ;D ;D ;D

[munro]

I think if you are going to tip at all the minimum for the average angler who does not have bottomless pockets should be £10 - if the Ghillie has been particulary attentive and helpful £20. Those who are better heeled can of course give as much as they feel able to. I must admit though that I feel that tipping is slightly objectionable. A labourer is worthy of his hire and it would probably be fairer if the rent of the beat included tips - why should a Ghillies income depend on the whim of the angler?

[kercock]

sloggi most likely fishes club waters,or is about to.! The thing is some do tip and some don't. Ours is a way of life along similar lines to a gamekeeper.Most of us do not have very good retirement pensions etc on top of their salary. most of us work for a salary that most of you would laugh at. Then again, most of you are in jobs you dread going to and some of us have jobs we love. It certainly would not occur to me to have a meal and not leave a tip for the waiter/waitress,unless I got crap service,in which case I tell them exactly why I haven't tipped them., No point in slipping away ,leaving and saying nothing.
Some do and some don't, Simple.

[Fruin]

I know I've mentioned this before, but, here I go again...

I work hard and earn a good wage for the experience that I have gained over the years. However, having a young family I also have high outgoings, and therefore cannot afford or justify expensive days fishing. I mostly fish club waters here and there, with a few more expensive days if I'm feeling flush.

If I decide that I need a day on a good beat at a good time, I factor the ghillies tip into my projected expenditure. I figure that I get paid well for my experience, so should a good ghillie. If the ghillie is shy of manners, he gets f a and I'm quids in. However, if the ghillie even seems like a decent guy, I figure that they deserve something for having the doo dahs to take on a job that relies on tips, and for dealing with the diverse range of personalities that we can walk away from if we choose.

[salmonscotty16lb]

can imagine the tips help and the gillies depend on them! but just reward for there effort on the day i would think?
also some of them could better there wage doing other work and there would be no gillie:O
dig deep lads more so if you have caught a salmon:D

[JJ]

For what its worth.. I think performance related pay is a common trend in industry and why not reward a gillie for his assistance in the same way? Does n't this incentivise the gillie to be attentive and supportive to his clients? Why shouldnt a good gillie take home a bit more than a shoddy one? Personally £20 seems reasonable for good service, a good chitchat, some tips and a bit of banter.. If I actually pressed a gillie to land a fish for me (god forbid!) I would probably go to £25.

[JJ]

Hmmm but does that mean everyone does the barest minimum to avoid the sack (and claim a standard yet good wage)? Shouldnt bonuses/tips incentive excellent service rather than just the minimum to stay in a job? Just a thought...

[scotty]

6. You must ring the ghillie, or other contact set by the fishery, at least two days before you come, so he knows that you are coming and that you know where and when to meet him. Please remember that it is customary to give any ghillie a tip at the end of your fishing.

rule 6 on fishscotland regulations.

personaly i do not agree.

scotty.

[madkeen]

If the gillie shows me the likely spots and offers some advice throughout the day then thats all I expect then he gets a tip .I think a tenner about right .If he doesnt show you the beat and doesnt seem interested then he gets f8ck all and I will tell him how.
Alan

[betanut]

scotty said:

...........................rule 6 on fishscotland regulations.

personaly i do not agree.

scotty.

Yup, a daft way to word it and one that had by-passed me. Tipping should be done for good service/company, it never has been and should never be compulsory on any beat that I know of

[donnieW]

woldedge said:

Here is a prime example of being told it is compulsory rather than optional. This is taken from a well know fishing beat, of which shall remain nameless, and there are many more suggesting the same.

.(quote) It is normal to tip the gillie and the beat owners recommend a minimum rate of £8 per fisherman per day.

I would strongly advise using only notes - if you start dishing out loose change, make sure you keep your chest waders on in case the ghillie decides to return it!!! I would never tip a ghillie out of sympathy - only if they deserve it. By giving £8 it is obvious you are tipping out of obligation, not because you want to.

[shrimpman]

There are some ghillies on the Tay who have refused a tip if they couldn't get you a fish, even though they have been in the boat with you all day. However, I've never know a ghillie to turn down a dram from the bottle :-)