Choosing the Best Sunglass Lenses for Fishing

Whether you are a professional bass fisherman or just enjoy the quiet solitude on the weekend waters, it’s important to have the right tools on hand. Just like professionals invest in the right boat, or spend time researching the right rod or reel, it’s important to pick the right sunglass lenses. 

One of the most important yet overlooked safety precautions is protecting your eyesight. That said, it’s imperative to approach selecting your eyewear as you would any other tool in the sport.

Today we’re digging into aspects of lens selection when gearing up for your next expedition.

Excessive sun exposure can lead to loads of different eye injuries. Chances are, you can probably find one or more genetic eye disorders in your family tree that’s exacerbated by the sun.

 Excessive sun exposure can cause or accelerate in formation of:

• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Corneal sunburn
• Growths on your eye, known as pterygia or pinguecula
• Skin cancer on the delicate tissue around your eye
• Intraocular cancer (different types of cancer inside your eye, like melanoma)

 Fishing is a unique sport in that fishermen encounter the sun’s rays from all directions. With that, those that spend a lot of time on the water need to pay special attention to their type of eyewear.

Failure to have the right sunglasses can also lead to immediate, albeit temporary effects to vision that can lead to moving accidents on the water involving other boats or even people or animals floating in the water.

 In addition to finding a shape that protects from all angles, it’s important to have the right lenses to protect your eyes.

Types of Lenses and Why They Matter

 Now that we know why sunglasses are important, let’s talk about lenses. With so many sunglass options on the market, it’s important to know what to look for and why they’re important to those that like to fish. Here are the top features to look for and why they make a difference.

UV Protection

In the same way you should be using sunscreen, ultraviolet (UV) protection protects your eyes from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. The higher the associated UV protection number a lens has, the better the protection it offers.

For example, Fisk Gear offers blue mineral glass mirror lenses with UV380 protection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For top of the line protection, Fisk Gear’s TAC lenses offer UV400 protection with astounding durability.

 Polarized Lenses

Chances are, you’ve seen the term thrown around, but let’s dig into why polarization is important for fishermen. As we mentioned before, your eyes are being assaulted by the sun from all directions while you’re out on the water.

A polarized lens filters out light waves coming from different directions as opposed to just head-on. They work much in the same way as a privacy screen blocker on a computer, phone, or other device.

Anyone who has been on the water near sunrise or sunset knows just how dangerous it can be when the sun is too high to be blocked by the horizon and too low to be blocked with a hat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It only takes a moment to catch a glare that can impair your ability to drive and maneuver safely. That said, fishermen and boaters need every advantage they can get when it comes to boat safety during this time.

 Tints for Polarized Lenses

Fisk Gear currently offers three different lens shades that are best adapted to different light levels. Different tints yield different clarity in certain light levels.

Yellow Hued Sunglass Lenses

Yellow lenses allow the best visibility in low light fishing conditions. Those hitting the water early in the morning will appreciate the ability to detect greater detail and definition with a yellow lens.

Copper or Amber Tinted Sunglass Lenses

A slightly darker lens like a copper tint is best for eliminating glare and enhancing contrast to detect movement for sight fishing with discreet light blocking ability.  This is a great sight fishing lens.

Gray Sunglass Lenses

Perhaps one of the most versatile lenses for most conditions, our gray lens is a fantastic choice for those heading out on a bright day. As you would imagine, a universal, gray lens can move comfortably between the boat and the truck.

Silver Mirror (Copper based) Sunglass Lenses

Silver Mirror lens provides excellent contrast with the benefit of a polarized lens. Because light sources tend to vary along tree-lined bodies of water, our polarized lenses are perfect for blocking unpredictable conditions associated with river and stream fishing.

Green Mirror (Copper based) Sunglass Lenses

Copper based Green Mirror lens provides the sharpened contrast of an amber lens with the light blocking power of a mirrored, polarized lens. These are best to enhance your vision and protect your eyes on bright days in open water and flats fishing.

Blue Mirror (Gray based) Sunglass Lenses

For the highest light blocking power, you’ll want to try Fisk Gear’s Blue Mirror lens. Because it utilizes a gray base, you’ll reduce a significant amount of inbound light. When it’s paired with the mirrored, polarized coating, you’re protected from the most harmful UV rays on bright sunny days on open water.

Lens Materials for Fishing Sunglasses: What to Look For

Fisk Gear currently offers two distinct lens materials. Both are engineered to provide optimal sun protection while fishing. A great question to ask yourself would be how hard you are on your glasses and what type of fishing are you doing this season? 

• Mineral Glass Lenses - While glass lenses are more fragile than their counterparts, mineral glass lenses are the leading industry material in terms of optical quality. Fisk’s mineral glass lenses also have a rating of UV380, one of the best ratings in sun protection available and will not scratch.
• Tri-Acetate Cellulose or “TAC” Lenses - TAC lenses are made with a 7 layer process but with a light, polycarbonate feel; however, TAC lenses significantly outperform polycarbonate lenses in both clarity and contrast. Fisk’s TAC lenses are rated as UV400, meaning they provide the ultimate in sun protection.

Next time you’re evaluating your equipment, don’t overlook the importance of your light conditions in relation to your lens quality. Pros know that when looking to improve your fishing game, it’s important to reach for the right tools. Hopefully this information will help you pick the right fishing sunglasses for professional results.