It really doesn’t matter if the sun is out or not, whenever an angler leaves the dock, steps on the beach, pulls up to the pier, they should most definitely have their sunglasses on. Proper sunglasses for anglers up your game significantly and believe it or not, will help you catch a LOT more fish. Sunglasses – yes sunglasses are a vital piece of equipment that should be in every anglers tackle box, scratch that, should be on ever anglers face – always.
Why?
Primarily, they protect your eyes from a number of things. Certain light spectrums have the ability to do irreversible damage to your eyes. And you don’t only get light coming down on you from above, you get reflected light off items such as the surface of the water, the aluminum boat you’re fishing from, really anything that reflects light. It has been seen, sunglasses also protect your eyes from flying items like lures, weights and hooks. They are your first line of defense when it comes to that missed hook set or the lure that pulled from a fish’s mouth, or a careless lack of judgment in casting from your fishing buddy. I’d rather have a pair of sunglasses smashed or scratched that have to deal with a hook in my eye.
Sunglasses allow you to enjoy the outdoors more. More time on the water results in more fish in the boat. There are a very few brands out there that focus on lens technology that actually protects and prevents long-term damage from the light spectrum. (Read up on True Blue lens technology!) Soothing properties and colors help prevent eye fatigue and the inevitable headaches that come along with extended outdoor light exposure.
If you choose to buy a pair of sunglasses for fishing, make sure you get polarized lenses. The polarization of the lenses will cut the reflective glare on the water’s surface and actually allow you to see into the water. It works on all bodies of water as well be it rivers, the ocean and lakes. (Provided the water has some clarity to it) You can see submerged structure like rocks and stumps, weed lines and you can actually see fish as well. They take a bit of getting used to, but will up your game big time when it comes to removing glare. I have seen many fish follow my presentation with polarized lenses and that extra information has allowed me to manipulate the bait to entice a strike. I think of the fish I’ve missed over my career not using polarized lenses.
If you get the right pair of polarized sunglasses for you, chances are you’ll forget they’re even on. They should be comfortable, fit your face and not allow any “light creep” through the frame. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different lens tints or colors based on the natural color of your lake or river. Some shades of lens will actually perform better for you depending on the color of your water.
