Pick the Best Polarized Sunglasses for Any Fishing Situation

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For many anglers, sight-fishing is the ultimate thrill. Of course, success hinges largely on spotting fish before they see you, and without the right sunglasses, pinpointing a big bass guarding a bed during the spawn, a bonefish creeping along a sandbar or a brown trout lurking motionless on a river seam can be a tall task.

A fishing buddy used to say, “They only eat at the front end.” It was his constant reminder that you not only have to detect the presence of a fish, you must also see it clearly enough to tell which direction it’s facing in order to make a good presentation. And to get the target in your sights, polarized sunglasses can make all the difference.

POLARIZATION BASICS

Sunlight scatters as it bounces off uneven surfaces at varying angles. But in the case of water and a shallow, fairly smooth bottom, as found on many salt flats and some lakes, much of the light will reflect right into your eyes at one consistent angle. This, in essence, is glare, and to an angler it means reduced visibility and likely missed opportunities.

The solution is polarized sunglasses, the lenses of which—putting it simply—work like Venetian blinds. Basically, they only let through vertical light waves to minimize glare and allow our eyes to see through that mirror-like interface of air and water, allowing us to distinguish the shapes and details of fish and bottom structure.

Glare, nevertheless, is not the only hurdle preventing maximum visibility. Our eyes constantly face harmful UV light, as well as lights of various colors, all of which have different effects. There are red and green lights, which enhance depth and color perception. Then, there’s the harsh yellow light, a disruptor that makes red and green less discernible, hindering overall visual acuity. There’s also a good and a bad blue light. The former makes for crisper images and more relaxed eyes, while the latter creates a haze that limits sharpness and depth. When the red, green and the good blue come together, the result is superior vision. But for that to happen, you need polarized lenses that will block or minimize the harsh yellow and bad blue light.

Even on a cloudy day, glare can cause eye fatigue and hinder your ability to read the water with precision. With polarized sunglasses, objects can look crisper and details can be easier to see. Keep in mind, however, that polarized shades aren’t all created equal. You really do get what you pay for, so it’s important to invest in the best pair you can afford.

WHY PAY MORE?

When consulted during recent interviews, lens designers at Costa Del Mar and Bajío, two of the top angling-oriented brands of sunglasses, explained that in quality lenses, a polarizing film or wafer is embedded inside protective glass lenses or applied to both sides of polycarbonate lenses. Additional layers then help fine-tune the lenses to make them suited for specific lighting situations and backdrops. That’s how some sunglasses afford better visibility under a bright sun, while others prevail when it’s overcast or at dawn and dusk. It’s also how certain pairs are made to excel on the saltwater flats while others do best in rivers and lakes or in deep bluewater offshore.

Multi-layer construction is a major reason for the higher price tag of quality polarized glasses. Bajío, for instance, offers 14 different lenses for different scenarios, incorporating the company’s proprietary LAPIS technology to block up to 90 percent of the harsh yellow light and 95 percent of harmful blue light. Meanwhile, Costa Del Mar’s performance sunglasses are available with lenses in nine color variations with the brand’s color-enhancing 580 lens technology to tackle different environments and the ever-changing light conditions.

In addition, top-notch polarized sunglasses have other important features the cheap drugstore varieties don’t. For starters, they boast much better hardware and come in a range of models with more durable frames (and often broader lenses) designed to properly fit certain facial dimensions for superior comfort and performance.

Plus, many feature sweat management channels and adjustable and even ventilated nose pads to reduce fogging. Some also include hooding or side shields to keep distracting light out, and attachment points to add a lanyard or similar retainer to hang the glasses around your neck when not in use.

LENS COLOR CHOICES

Basically, the color layer in quality sunglasses (as well as the mirroring in some) is what dictates the conditions and fishing situations each is best suited for.

Mike Turner, global product director at Costa del Mar, says color filters in the company’s polarized sunglasses mute some colors and allow others to be seen more readily.

“Our blue-mirror lenses cut the surface glare and reduce all that blue from the sea, making it easier for offshore anglers to see weed lines and spot mahi under them or maybe see a lit-up sailfish tracking a bait in the trolling spread,” says Turner. “On inshore grass flats, our copper lenses with green mirror will reduce the intensity of some colors a bit and make it easier to detect a cruising redfish or a snook waiting in ambush. On a white-sand flat, our silver-mirror lenses will cut the glare from both the surface and the sand, helping you spot an approaching bonefish, permit or tarpon.”

Famed bass pro Kevin Van Dam favors Costa’s copper-based silver mirror lenses for most freshwater duty. However, he also carries a couple other pairs for certain circumstances.

“If you’re going to buy one pair for low and bright light, fishing grass beds, structure and other bass cover, the silver mirrors give you a combination of glare reduction and the ability to see both the fish and the cover,” says Van Dam. “But in grassy lakes, I like the green mirror to make the cover pop. And when fishing at sunrise or sunset, I usually go to the sunrise silver mirror, which lets me see through the surface despite the low sun angle and the red and orange reflection.”

There’s no actual standard for the amount of light a particular shade of lens allows through, and similar lenses from different brands will surely let more or less light pass than others. So you’ll want to try sunglasses from several makers and compare.

In the end, it boils down to personal preference, so let your eyes be the judge. In the event you can only buy one pair of high-end, polarized sunglasses, consider that most users say gray lenses are the best all-around color, providing a good compromise of light passage, glare reduction and accurate color representation.

GLASS VS. POLY

According to Renato Cappuccitti, Vice President of Operations and Rx at Bajío, quality lenses are either made of optically pure glass or polycarbonate, a purified plastic.

“Glass is much more scratch resistant, so it’s a better choice if your sunglasses will be around sand, salt, hooks and car keys on the dash,” he says. “All the optical elements are inside layers of clear glass, so odds are they’re not going to get damaged, and most people feel that it offers the best clarity.”

However, Cappuccitti notes that glass lenses are heavier than polycarbonate lenses of the same dimensions.

“They might bother some people across the bridge of their nose,” he says, adding that a hard impact—like from a lead-head jig on an errant hookset—could shatter glass lenses. “Plastic lenses will scratch more easily, but they’re about 70 percent lighter and won’t shatter in most circumstances.”

PROPER FRAMING

“The frames are nearly as important as the lenses on the sunglasses,” says Cappuccitti. “We all have different head sizes, and women generally have smaller heads than men, so we make frames in extra-large, large, medium and small so people can get a pair of glasses that will sit properly on the bridge of their nose and feel comfortable against their temples and ears.”

Costa’s Turner also notes the importance of premium frames. “We use close-fitting frames that won’t let in much light around them, and we offer models to fit different face shapes. Some have hoods on top or side shields for those who want maximum visibility into the water. Our hinges have integrated springs so the temples can overextend slightly to fit larger heads, and they’re made of marine-grade stainless to prevent oxidizing and rust.”

THE PRICE OF QUALITY

You can expect to pay around $150 to $200 for a top-brand model with poly lenses, and as much as $260 for a pair with multi-layer glass lenses.

If your eyes need a bit of help when it comes to tying knots or threading the line through a small hook eye, there are polarized shades with standard readers inset near the bottom of the lenses. These are usually polycarbonate and priced between $200 and $230.

Should you require full-on bifocals or progressives for clear vision both at a distance and up close, expect the sunglasses to come with a price tag of $300 to $565 or more, depending on the frame style, lens size and the complexity of the prescription. A visit to your optometrist to get the current prescription that works best for you should be part of the process.

The right sunglasses will not only protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, but also enhance your ability to see under the water’s surface, improving your fishing experience and chances for success. Whether you prefer the clarity of glass, the durability of plastic or require prescription options, there’s a perfect pair of sunglasses waiting for you.

• This article was featured in the April issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe

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