I've done a bunch of guided trips. Some were in canoes, some rafting, a very few kayaking. I think that on most every trip each guide would get some time to or for themselves, except for day trips. I guess if the non fishing guide offered to assist/accompany your friend at fishing after he finished his chores, that would seem typical to me. If they don't get some time to themselves, I'd think they would go bonkers. I feel I should also say that I've never been on a guided trip where the guides "waited" on us. They prepared meals and cleaned up, but I can't think of a trip where people didn't offer to help... That was a way to really get to know the guides. I've never been on a guided trip where we didn't have to help load and unload boats, put up our own tents, and at a minimum wash our own dishes. Mostly, we clients have done much more. Maybe some of that was guilt, but I think a lot of it was because we knew how, and genuinely wanted to participate in our trips. Most of the people I've been on trips with have a good deal of outdoor experience, but they want to go places that they don't know much about, or they don't know others who want to do a trip like they want to do, or can't do it at the same time, or don't want to be bothered worrying about permits, they just want to go. I've been to the Everglades, the Artcic, the Grand Canyon, and lots of places in between. I wouldn't have been able to arrange those trips for myself, so I'm usually happy outfitters will do the organizing for me. I still have to have my own appropriate clothes and some other gear. And if I want, I can always bring all my own gear from paddles and dry bags to sleeping bags, etc. I've only been on a couple trips that had people who'd never camped before, and they didn't hit up the guides for assistance, they usually hit up those of us with more experience. On my last two rafting trips I got to steer the boat, although not through the big name rapids. The guides are usually willing to let you do most anything they feel you can do safely. I guess I feel defensive because I keep reading (mostly about the Grand Canyon) where people doing private trips think that people on guided trips are foolish lumps. Maybe some are, but in my experience, most clients are caring, involved, competent outdoors people, who just happen to want to take a guided trip so their vacations are restful instead of stressful. Guides usually know the area, they can identify flowers and plants and they have had appropriate first aid classes for the kinds of boo-boos one is likely to encounter in the outdoors. But about the only thing I *expect* from guides is that they will do their best to make it a safe trip. Everything else is gravy. Ok, that said, I have done a few trips with guides who are meant to be one-year wonders. Some may be only be one-trip wonders. In that instance, I'd want to tip less, but since your tip usually goes to the lead guide, and he/she divides the tips evenly and then distributes them to all the guides, by reducing the tip, you're reducing the tip to all guides, not just the lackluster one. If I were your friend, I guess I would expressly say to the lead guide that I want to go fishing after we eat... Can I take a canoe, or can (other client) and I take a canoe and go fishing? Sometimes I've had to be blunt about what I really wanted to do. I've never asked for anything that was way out of bounds, and I've never been refused. I hope I haven't rambled too much, but just because I take guided trips doesn't mean I'm incompetent in the woods or on the water, or that I'm not wiling to do my part. And guides rarely read minds, so tell them if you really want to do something. Pringles