Things to Consider Before Buying Fishing Sunglasses

Sunglasses also protect your eyes from hooks, so get a pair with shatter-resistant lenses for added security.

Fishing sunglasses don’t just shield your eyes from the sun. They also reduce the amount of glare on the water’s surface, enabling you to see what’s beneath it. That’s crucial not just for sight fishing to saltwater flats species like bonefish and permit, but also for seeing trout feeding on insects just beneath the water’s surface. You can see cruising schools of baitfish, spot rocks and downed trees that might hold fish, and discern whether a bottom is gravel or mud. All those little clues can add up, and the more intel you have, the better your chances of catching fish. But a good pair of fishing sunglasses should have more features than just quality lenses.

Mirrored Glass Lenses Reduce UV Light Transmission

Good fishing sunglasses have clear, distortion-free lenses that should allow you to see better. Glass lenses are slightly heavier than plastic lenses but offer better optical quality. Your eyes will be getting enough of a workout just searching for fish all day, so don’t add to that burden by introducing eye pain or a headache.

Tacky Rubber Nose Pads Prevent Slippage

A pair of fishing sunglasses should do more than just fit your face; they should also stay on your face. When you’re moving around casting, wading or operating a boat, changing lures or flies, and unhooking fish. Pushing your sunglasses back up the bridge of your nose every few minutes is annoying and takes your concentration away from fishing. Look for sunglasses with tacky nose and earpads, or a material designed to create friction when it’s in contact with wet skin. Lanyard attachment points at the end of the ear stems let you tether glasses to your head. If they fall off, they’ll land around your neck rather than in the drink.

Light Frames Make Them Comfortable to Wear All Day

Anglers are on the water early, so you may be wearing your fishing sunglasses for much of the day. Heavy sunglasses, usually made with glass lenses and a dense frame material, will be uncomfortable and press down on your nose and ears. You’ll be tempted to take them off. Invest in a lightweight pair of fishing sunglasses made with polycarbonate lenses and light, plastic frames and you’ll have a backup pair to wear after your high-end set gives you a headache.

This article was written by the editors and published first in Field and Stream