Fishing sunglasses leave their mark. You can spot a hard-core angler from across the room at a formal engagement. Those pale raccoon rings around the eyes and the ball cap-bleached beacon of a forehead are dead giveaways.
The look might appear humorous paired with a suit at a wedding reception, but it’s a badge of honor. To fishermen, the brim of a hat and a good pair of sunglasses are as important as steel-toed boots to construction workers. They protect you from the sun, the elements and wayward treble hooks. They can also make you better at fishing.
These days, the market is flooded with a host of brands that pump out quality shades year after year. When it comes to fishing sunglasses, there are high-performance features that benefit anglers. Some, like polarization and adequate coverage, are absolute necessities. Others, like vents, shields and rubber pads provide added comfort and protection. Then there are the lenses. Glass vs. synthetic? Mirrored or not mirrored? What colors are best for what conditions?
And finally, fishing sunglasses should look good in grip-n-grin photos. As a child, my older brother told me, “It doesn’t matter how good you are at something as long as you look cool you look doing it.” The cool factor is important, and depending on the size and shape of your head and current trends, a good-looking pair of fishing sunglasses is going to be different for everyone.
Here are things to consider when selecting your next pair of fishing sunglasses as well as a look at some of the newest shades on the market from some of the top brands.
Polarized Lenses
You probably already know this, because there isn’t a pair of fishing sunglasses on the market today that doesn’t have polarized lenses. Polarized lenses block glare that can lead to eye fatigue and allow you to see through that glare into the water.
This is accomplished with a treatment that filters light using microscopic vertical openings. Vertical light waves pass through the lens to your eyes while horizontal light waves, such as those reflected off the undulating surface of the water are blocked.
Without glare, you can look into the depths to spot bait, fish and structure while fishing. From the helm of a boat, sub-surface obstacles are easier to see. Even above the water, objects appear sharper with more contrast when horizontal light waves don’t reach your eyes.
Polarization also cuts down on the eye fatigue we’ve all felt during long days on the water. That eye fatigue is caused by ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB rays that pass through lenses that are merely tinted. It’s like a sunburn on your eyes. Polarized lenses help you see into the water, and they also protect your eyes from potential long-term damage from repeated exposure.
Glass vs. Plastic Lenses
High quality glass lenses provide the best optical clarity because glass refracts light more efficiently than plastic. Glass lenses are also scratch resistant, so they stand up better to the sand and salt abuse they’ll be subjected to on the deck of a boat.
The word plastic might make lenses sound cheap, but high-tech polymers like Trivex, CR-39, polycarbonate, polyurethane and nylon have reached optical clarity near that of glass. Plastics are also lightweight, more impact resistant and generally less expensive than glass.
Both types of lenses can be treated with coatings like anti-scratch, anti-static and oil- and water-repellants that increase their performance.
Visible Light Transmission
Visible light is different from ultraviolet (UV) light. With a higher frequency, UV light waves are not detectible by the human eye but they are the waves that can damage your eyes. Fishing sunglasses should have a high degree of protection from UV rays.
Visible light is the light that allows you to see. You want shades that block some of this visible light, but not all of it.
When comparing lenses, pay attention to a figure known as the visible light transmission (VLT) percentage. VLT percentage is a measurement of how much light passes through the lens to your eyes. Most fishing sunglasses will have a VLT in the 8 to 20 percent range, with some specialized low-light lenses measuring up to 25 percent or more. The lower the percentage, the darker the tint of the sunglasses.
If you spend a lot of time fishing open water in bright sun, you’ll want to invest in a pair of shades with a low VLT percentage and 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. If you fish partially shaded creeks or rivers or on overcast days, you can get away with a higher VLT percentage, and the world will look brighter, but you still want fishing sunglasses with UV protection.
The Best Lens Colors for Fishing
There is some debate over what color lenses are best for fishing in different situations. Different companies market their lens colors by different names, and for the most part color boils down to personal preference of how you would like to see the world. There are, however, some considerations that have to do with contrast and color.
The two most common base colors for lenses are gray and brown. Gray is the darkest lens color option. It offers the highest level of protection and is recommended for bright sun situations. Think offshore or open water with little or no shade or cloud cover. Gray is considered a neutral color, so it does not affect color or contrast and provides more true-to-life vision. Many anglers also like a blue-tinted lens for bright sun and deep-water fishing.
A brown base tint blocks less light than gray, so the world appears brighter. Brown also affects color and contrast. Many companies market lenses like these as color or contrast enhancing with names like bronze or copper. They are said to be helpful in semi-shaded conditions as well as when sight fishing shallow water or freshwater. Added contrast makes it easier to spot fish outlined against the bottom, whether it be a cobbled streambed or a grass or sand flat. Green is another popular lens color for shallow water applications.
There are also yellow base lenses with a high VLT percentage that are intended for low-light conditions. If you’re fishing early in the morning or late in the evening, these will provide some UV protection and cut down on glare while making the world appear brighter than it would with darker lenses.
Mirrored Lenses?
Mirrored lens coatings are mostly a cosmetic consideration. Mirrored treatments do provide some additional glare blockage, but remember that you already have polarization doing that for you.
Mirrored lenses do look cool, though, and other people won’t be able to see what you are looking at.
Fishing Sunglasses Frames
Fishing sunglasses tend to run large in comparison to day-to-day frames. This is because larger, bulkier frames that are wide at the temples cover your eyes and more of your face. The frames themselves are providing sun protection as well as protection from flying debris, such as hooks or fish blood splatter.
Many models of fishing sunglasses are designed with an 8-base wrap or full wrap, which means they curve around your face snugly. This not only blocks light from leaking in from any angle, it also protects from wind intrusion and gives you a wider field of protected peripheral vision.
Other Features of Fishing Sunglasses
• No Slip
Some models feature rubber pads at the nose and ears for a secure and comfortable fit.
• Vents
Strategically placed vents allow airflow that cuts down on fogging and keeps the area around your eyes cooler.
• Retainer Ready
With the bulky fishing frames that are popular now, some sunglasses will not receive the traditional slide-on retainer leashes. Some models narrow down at the temple tips for retainers. Others have a slot that allows for clip-on retainers, which are even more secure.
• Sweat Channels
This is exactly what it sounds like, grooves that channel sweat out from under the frames to cut down on fogging from humidity and to keep you comfortable.
• Side Shields
Want full protection without the full wrap? Removable side shields block light and wind from the sides. When you come off the water, you can remove the shields if you want.
Need Prescription Sunglasses?
For the four-eyed angler, prescription lenses might be a necessity. Many of the top brands (including Bajio, Costa, Spy+ Optic, Skeleton and Vallon mentioned in this article) allow fishermen to custom-order prescription lenses with a range of colors and options in different frames.
Another option is a company like California-based Sport RX, which specializes in prescription eyewear for sports including fishing. They carry a wide selection of frames from top brands and fishing-specific prescription lenses. With opticians on-hand to help and a 45-day trial period, If you aren’t happy with what you found, you can send them back for a full refund.
