Columbia Fishing guide tax

[Curly]

I would think guides have a hard enough time making a living as it is.  Add a tax to them and they will have to raise their rates and they will likely lose some clients.  That's a bad deal IMO. 

Taxing them is a terrible idea.
 

[bearpaw]

They also provide a valuable service and get a lot of folks involved in fishing that probably would otherwise buy licenses.  More anglers means more people to support the sport and means more license dollars to pay for WDFW.

  Exactly, those guides do more to get the public to support fishing than anyone. The limit is still one fish per fisherman!

The way economics work, when you tax a business it gets passed on to the consumer. That's the only way a business stays in business! Essentially you are suggesting that everyone who goes with a guide will have to pay more! Take away the percentage of fishermen who go with a guide and expect that much of an increase to your fishing license in the near future! Take away all the fishermen that guides and charters bring in to local towns and it will hurt local economies! Just a few thoughts to consider!

[rasbo]

In recent years the number of fishing guides has exploded. I'd like to see them have to pay a large tax that would go to hatcheries. Guides are responsible for an extremely high percentage of the harvest quota especially on the Columbia. In bouy 10 for example with the 1 fish limit guides are going to be able to do 3 trips a day. Why should they get to kill 18 fish a day when on my boat I can only kill a couple. Because of these guides fisheries close super fast. I'd guess without guide boats fisheries like bouy 10 would be open twice as long. Weekend warriors getting the shaft again.

some folks cant afford boats to do these things,plus the clients bring income into the area,and purchase a license..Its good for the economy.

[JimmyHoffa]

Actually the best thing I think the state could do would be to have the limits be twice the size for recreational guys. This would be good for the guides too cause they could do more trips.

Alaska is doing things regarding differences in limits to favor the local/resident/non-guide.  They have different size restrictions, daily limits and annual limits for certain species--especially the ones locals are more dependent on.

[konradcountry]

I would think guides have a hard enough time making a living as it is.  Add a tax to them and they will have to raise their rates and they will likely lose some clients.  That's a bad deal IMO. 

This is correct. Most the boats only do guides when the economics favor it over commercial fishing.

The dock hands work entirely on tips. When I was in Westport I saw crewmen sleeping 6 to a room.

It's a lousy business. Just walk around Ilwaco. It's not a town flowing with money.

[hunt_fish]

I can see where Wapatriot is coming from, there is a huge influx of guides nowadays for rivers.  It's a ridiculous amount on the rivers compared to even 10 years ago.  Too bad they can't limit the amount of guides like they can with saltwater guides.  I don't really care how many guides there are though since I mostly fish small rivers in western Washington or the Columbia in eastern Washington and there's plenty of fishing spots up there.

[klickman]

The only thing a tax would do is drive up the price of a guide trip.  Guides aren't going to eat that extra fee.  They are going to have to make the money some other way.  Believe me there are no rich fishing guides.  These guys barely make ends meet.  You want a longer season?  Follow the fish up river, find other fisheries, do as the guides do and be diverse.  There is a ton of opportunity for salmon and steelhead in WA year round.  Just go find it. 

[snake]

Guides hurt fisheries plain and simple, most of their clients do not appreciate the fisheries or the resource.  If you don't believe me ask a guide, they will tell you.  Many rivers have been guided to death.  Its ridiculous to act like they are generating a ton of support by bringing out tons of people to fisheries that can't support the pressure, and yes i'm aware of the commercial pressure blah blah blah I could go on for hours...

[Taco280AI]

How many fish are caught by guided boats vs the rest of the fishing population? How many guided catches vs native nettings? How many guided fish vs sea lions? How many vs commercial boats?

...most of their clients do not appreciate the fisheries or the resource...

And as far as this goes, how many anglers and hunters have you seen that don't appreciate the resources? I've seen a lot. I've seen a ton of non-guided "fishermen" who are slobs and litter up the banks, take as much as they can, don't care about or appreciate anything but what they possess. Same goes with hunters unfortunately. Don't try to act like guided anglers are the problem, lots of other people on the banks and in boats are more of a problem because they go out more often and do even more damage.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

The only thing a tax would do is drive up the price of a guide trip.  Guides aren't going to eat that extra fee.  They are going to have to make the money some other way.  Believe me there are no rich fishing guides.  These guys barely make ends meet.  You want a longer season?  Follow the fish up river, find other fisheries, do as the guides do and be diverse.  There is a ton of opportunity for salmon and steelhead in WA year round.  Just go find it.

Just like any other industry extra taxes are passed onto the  customer. If the Guide is eating it then they should revisit there business plan. Just as fuel prices rise it's passed onto the customer as a gas surcharge. Doesnt matter if your the Plumber,Electrician, HVAC tech or a fishing guide.As for following the fish up river that in itself is not feasible for most sporties and be better if they stay close to there home range and fish.

[cohoho]

Silly thinking to punish the guides by taxing.  They are providing a service to others that may not have a boat or may not be able to actually catch fish.  Clients buy licenses, it isn't like the guides are keeping their fish.... Guides got to make their money while they can and that means as fish  as much as they can.  I know a couple guides that have a huge sum of deposit money they owe back to paid clients due to the cut backs.  They didn't know the cuts were coming and bought needed replacement gear, now they got cool gear but not able to fish.  So now probably go broke trying to repay or bankrupt..  Their income depends upon the fishery.   There isn't a guide on the river that is ever going to get rich guiding, heck if they aren't hitting each and every date open, they aren't making hardly any money.  Guiding isn't as lucrative as you think.  If your a quality outfit, you got the best gear, best boat, etc...  If it is crap boat, gear, etc..., your not getting repeat clients...  Up keep isn't cheap when you got folks breaking stuff, losing stuff, not to mention time spent trying leaders, re-fixing equipment, and cleaning up boat. 

I fish a lot and do not guide, but I choose what days I go and who I go with, guides rarely can choose those factors as they have commitment to ensure clients get their fish as those folks have paid licenses to enable them to catch the fish... 

[bearpaw]

Many customers of guides don't own a boat and only get to do an occasional fishing trip. I'm willing to bet the guys complaining about fishing guides are taking way more fish than nearly any customers of the guides. 

Maybe there should be a season limit so everyone gets a more equal chance to fish?

[plugger]

One thing they do need to do is not allow the Guide to keep his limit, I am not a fan of guides, From what I have seen, most (Im sure not all) only care about the dollar, not about the resource. I am on the water all the time (fresh water) and see, for example a guide with three limits of walleye, with only 2 clients and not one time do I see the guide reel in a fish There is one way to cut the harvest in most rivers, Not the big C, but say coastal rivers, and that is to make the use of boats transportation only. No plugs and no side drifting and watch what happens.

[deerlick]

I don't know what your worried about over half the new so called guides are terrible and catch alot less fish then alot of good private boats.

[BigGoonTuna]

you will not find any guide love from me, i think what we need is higher standards for the guides and limited entry per river/basin.  very few "local" guides any more, it's become a horde of locusts especially in the last 15 years.  kind of funny seeing guys with "425" numbers guiding on the cowlitz, humptulips, etc.