Sunglasses are a trendy item that people love to wear, but they are also essential items to protect your eyes. Offering style and function, sunglasses are worth the investment, especially when fishing.
Do Polarized Sunglasses Help You Catch More Fish?
Polarized sunglasses will keep you protected as you fish, giving you the better sight that you need when fishing. You are staring at water that’s reflecting the sun in your eyes even when you can’t see the sun in the clouds. Sunglasses help you make the most of your adventure.
By reading on, you are going to learn everything that you need about polarized sunglasses and why they are essential equipment on any fishing trip.
What are Polarized Sunglasses?
Polarized sunglasses are sunglasses that are specifically made to reduce the amount of glare from various surfaces, including water.
The problem with glare is that it can hinder your ability to properly see what color objects are as well as making these objects even harder to distinguish.
These glasses come in a variety of colors, which can depend on what is used to make them.
The darker that the polarized lenses are, the higher polarization levels you will get from them.
The tricky thing about protecting your eyes from sunlight is that it can be absorbed or reflected in various directions.
The rays will bounce off of the horizontal surfaces and reflected in the same manner. Not only can this glare be distracting, but it can also be potentially blinding. (Verywell Health
)
But how do these glasses work? These glasses are made with a special chemical that is applied to the glasses to filter light.
The molecules of these chemicals line up in a way that blocks that horizontal glare light from getting through the glasses.
The result for you is that while you still get a clear view of what you’re seeing, it will be darker but crisper.
People who fish in particular notice the benefits of polarized glasses, allowing them to fish longer without their eyes getting as tired or sore. (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
You need to remember that just because glasses are tinted or say that they block UV rays, that doesn’t mean that they are polarized as well.
Polarized glasses will specifically state that they are polarized glasses so that you know what you are buying.
Do You Need Polarized Sunglasses When Fishing?
You do need polarized sunglasses when fishing. Many experienced people who enjoy fishing consider this as essential equipment when they go fishing.
As the light glares off the water’s surface, which can even happen in what looks like a seemingly cloudy day, it makes it much more difficult for you to see what you are doing when fishing.
This can be especially disruptive in your ability to spot the fish on the surface or even below it. (Saltwater Sportsman)
Not all polarized sunglasses are the same.
The different colorings on them offer different benefits to the user, and there are many factors to consider when choosing the right polarized sunglasses, which you can learn by reading this next section.
What is important to remember is that you will quickly find that polarized sunglasses are one of the essential pieces of accessories you must have with you on any fishing trip.
How to Buy Polarized Sunglasses?
No matter what technique of fishing you do, you need a quality pair of polarized sunglasses to help you have a fun, safe, and successful fishing trip.
You may think that shopping for polarized sunglasses is as easy as purchasing one, but not every polarized sunglasses have what you need and water to have the best experience.
There are different brands, materials, and other options to consider when buying the perfect pair of polarized sunglasses for you.
If you do buy your sunglasses online, it is recommended that you find a place where you can try them on before purchasing them online.
This is important because different glasses fit differently, and you want to make sure you are buying a comfortable pair of glasses that you won’t avoid wearing.
You need to wear them throughout your fishing trip, so it’s important to make sure that you pick a comfortable option.
This section will take a closer look at your different options for polarized sunglasses to help you make the best decision for your needs. (SaltStrong)
Polycarbonate Lenses or Glass Lenses
The first part to address is the differences between glass lenses and polycarbonate lenses. Glass lenses tend to be very popular for polarized glasses.
They not only offer a crisper image, but they also provide additional benefits over polycarbonate.
They are scratch-resistant, and you get better visuals with them.
The downside is that glass lenses aren’t the most durable option as they shatter a lot easier than polycarbonate lenses do.
Polycarbonate is lighter than glass lenses, which can be heavy and cause them to fall down your nose constantly.
But what makes polycarbonate lenses so appealing is that they are incredibly durable options.
If you are accident-prone, you may want to choose polycarbonate lenses over glass ones.
Lens Colors
With other types of glasses, you may choose the color lens that you like the best.
However, when it comes to polarized sunglasses, the glasses’ color will determine the glasses’ polarization levels.
This means you will find that some colored lenses work better for different types of fishing.
Front Lens Blue Mirror, Inside Grey Lens – If you primarily do offshore fishing, this is the type of lens you should be looking for. Since the blue outside lens matches the watercolor, it can better cut down the glare that the water reflects.
Front Lens Green Mirror, Inside Amber Lens – This type of lens is best used for people who fish in shallow water or inshore fishing. This is because this color combination better allows for sight fishing along the flats.
Grey Lens – This is the most versatile type of polarized sunglasses if you do a lot of different types of fishing. You can not only use them for all types of fishing, but they also work for any outdoor activity that you want to participate in.
Yellow Lens – Yellow lenses are the ideal choice if you need something for overcast days or lowlight conditions. These are also versatile lenses that you can use for various types of fishing.
As you can see, the color of these lenses serves a function rather than just-style. Think about your preferred type of fishing, and you can get a pair of polarized sunglasses that meet your needs.
You may want to invest in a couple of different types to make sure you have the perfect pair for whatever activity.
Curvature of Lens
Lens curvature is the term used to describe how the lens fits around your face and eyes.
This is a major factor in deciding if the sunglasses are going to perform well for your needs.
This is why it’s important to try on a pair of glasses before you buy them, even if you buy them online.
The purpose is to make sure that your vision stays as close as possible to what it is without glasses when you have them on.
Otherwise, it can negatively impact your perception, affecting your ability to see where fish and other objects as in the case with too much curvature.
How do you know if the lens curvature is too much for you? When you put the glasses on, moving only your eyes, you should look around the various directions.
Should you identify any vision distortions while doing this, you will know that those glasses will negatively impact your perception when fishing.
Hydrophobic Lens Coating
There are different treatments and coatings that you can find when buying polarized sunglasses. One of these coatings is the hydrophobic lens coating.
This lens coating is made specifically to cause water to bead up when they hit the lenses, which makes them much easier to clean if you get water on them.
Saltwater can be particularly difficult on your glasses, causing smears and dirt on the glasses as you clean the salt spray.
This makes it so that your glasses are easier to clean and maintain, allowing you to keep them for longer. (Orvis)
The Cost
How much something costs is always a major concern when it comes to buying anything.
Much like anything else, you get what you pay for when purchasing polarized sunglasses.
You can expect to spend a decent amount of money on a good pair.
By making this investment, you are buying sunglasses that will last for longer and have much less distortion that impacts your vision.
Wrap Arounds
The good thing about wrap around glasses is that they offer you protection on the sides, allowing you the peripheral vision you need when fishing.
Plus, the added benefit with the wraparounds is that your eyes have complete protection from the sun and any fishing hooks that get sent flying around.
These are just a few things that you need to consider when investing in a good pair of polarized lenses.
What Are The Benefits of Wearing Polarized Glasses when Fishing?
Polarized sunglasses offer users a lot of benefits when using polarized glasses.
In this section, you can see some of the top benefits of polarized sunglasses to help you better understand why these are a must-have for your fishing adventures.
Reducing Glare
The biggest benefit of polarized sunglasses is that they reduce the glare that you get when fishing.
As the glare reflects you, you will notice that your eyes start feeling strained, leading you to feel tired and develop headaches.
As the fishing adventure continues, you may not want to continue fishing due to the pain from the headaches, and you cut your fishing trip short.
Even when there’s no sun in the sky, there is still a risk of glare.
In addition to causing pain, this glare can prevent you from properly seeing the fish that you are trying to catch, reducing your success in catching the fish.
You can See Better
You’re not going to have much success fishing if you can’t see any sign of fish. As you look across the water, you are watching for signs of fish.
Little subsurface signs like boils and seams can help you identify great spots to fish.
However, these are things that you can’t see without polarized sunglasses because of glare. It’s essential to fully read the water so that you can better identify the best spots for fishing.
Otherwise, you end up wasting time casting lines where no fish will bite. (Guide Recommended)
See More Fish
It’s not just about the fact that you don’t have as much glare, you will also be able to see more contrast as well.
Depending on the color polarized sunglasses that you have, you can get noticeably better contrast when wearing your sunglasses.
What this means is that you can better identify fish in the water when compared to its surrounding.
For instance, yellow glasses offer the best levels of contrast, which is why this is the preferred choice for sight fishers.
Setting the Hook is Easier
Not only is it easier to see the water and fish for longer, but you also benefit from being more successful when setting your hook.
You can be more confident in your hook setting because you have an easier time seeing what you’re doing to track your strike indicator better.
Your eyes will be less strained after watching it so that you can fish for longer. It’s a win/win situation for you.
Better Vision in Low Light Situations
As an experienced fisherman, you know that dusk and dawn are the best times to catch fish. Some fish are better caught in overcast or rainy weather.
Unfortunately, these times offer you less visibility.
The good news is that polarized lenses can also be great to offer more visibility in low light situations.
You can get a crisper view and better contrast thanks to the polarized lenses, which is ideal for darker conditions.
Better Protection
Because you have better visibility thanks to the polarized sunglasses, you can not only see the fish, but you can also see any potential hazards.
Are there any submerged logs that you could potentially crash into? Are there deep holes that pose a safety risk?
It can be dangerous to be out on the water, so you need to be able to see any potential hazards to stay as safe as possible.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Polarized Sunglasses?
There are many benefits to polarized sunglasses, but there are also some disadvantages for you to consider.
In most cases, it’s highly recommended that people wear polarized sunglasses for their protection, but the problem is that these aren’t great choices for everyone.
Some people have physical reasons why they can’t wear them while others have psychological reasons for this.
Some people think that polarized lenses make them disoriented or cause dizziness.
Some people believe that polarized lenses create a 3-D effect that bothers their eyes.
Everyone has their own experience with polarized lenses, which is another reason you should try these glasses on before you invest the money.
There may be a reason for these problems.
They may have photoreceptors in the back of their eyes, which can pick up the vertical light signals different that other people.
If this is a problem you suffer from, you may just want to stick with tinted glasses.
You may also have trouble reading an LCD screen with polarized lenses, which can be a problem for some people.
Another disadvantage is getting a good quality pair of polarized sunglasses, and you will want to spend some money on them.
These glasses can get pretty expensive, depending on your needs and which brand you are buying.
This could make people more hesitant to get them or get cheaper lenses that don’t work as well as they should.
As you can see, there are several disadvantages, so you may have to decide if it’s beneficial for you to try polarized sunglasses.
Summary
For the most part, people will have a more improved fishing experience when they invest in a great pair of polarized sunglasses.
You want to make sure that you buy the right pair for your needs and be sure that you try them on to make sure they are a good fit for you.
You are going to be investing some money into these sunglasses, so it’s crucial to ensure that you are making the right investment.
