Over the past half-decade, as I’ve dived into teaching new anglers on essentially a full-time basis, I’ve come to realize quickly what is and isn’t necessary for a day on the water. You need a rod, reel, line, leader, tippet, split shot, indicators, floatant, flies, and a net. Waders and boots are great, but not necessary, especially if you’re willing to wet-wade during the summer.
As far as the specifics of which rod you should get, or the best fly line—that’s a whole other discussion. But I’m here to tell you that sunglasses also belong on the list of essential, must-have fly fishing gear. Here’s why:
Why You Need Sunglasses
They Save Your Eyes
I was in Alaska a few years ago, fishing the sockeye run before heading north to chase trout and grayling. The only real way to catch sockeye (unless you’re an Alaskan resident and have a dipnetting permit) is to bounce a “fly” along the bottom, attached to a 2 or 4-ounce banana weight. You let the rig drift, then give it a big yank at the end to set the hook into the mouth of anything that might be swimming down there. Sockeye hug the banks and open and close their mouths frequently while swimming upstream, so this “flossing” method is the best way to catch them. You’re only allowed to keep them if you’ve hooked them in the “head area,” a description straight from the Alaska Fish & Game’s guidebook. It’s not very sporting, but sockeye are great table fare, and it’s an interesting way to put fish in the net.
Anyways, I was fishing with that setup when my weight got snagged on something downstream. I pulled hard, and suddenly the rig slipped free and flew back at my face quicker than I could move. That 4-ounce lead weight smacked me right in the sunglasses, and I fell right in the river.
If I hadn’t been wearing sunglasses, I probably would have lost the eye.
So, at a bare minimum, sunglasses protect your eyes from physical damage. Whether it’s a weight or an errant cast from your buddy, they’ll keep hooks and heavy things where they belong—far away from your eyes.
You’ll also significantly reduce eye strain when staring at the water all day. Every optometrist who’s examined my eyes has reinforced just how important it is to wear sunglasses with all the time I spend staring at the water.
Bottom line: wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Spotting Fish
The right pair of sunglasses (and we’ll get to that in a minute) can also make an enormous difference in spotting fish in the water. Whether it’s trout in a river or bonefish on the flats, good lenses make spotting fish a lot easier than doing it by the naked eye.
Years ago, on a trip to Colorado, I left my sunglasses in my truck. My buddy was driving, and he didn’t have spares. I figured I’d be fine for a day, but after a few hours of staring at the water without them, I borrowed his keys, drove to the nearest gas station, and bought the cheapest pair I could find. They weren’t all that comfortable, but it was worth it to be able to spot fish as we worked our way through a spooky spring creek where stealth is the difference between catching the big ones or going home empty-handed.
What Sunglasses Do I Need?
Get a pair of polarized lenses. Glass or polycarbonate doesn’t really matter, especially for beginners. Frame style, construction, and design don’t matter, either. You just want some kind of polarized lens.
Polarized lenses cut the glare on the water, filtering out the harsh light so you can see through the water a bit better. In most streams and rivers, you’ll be able to see more of the underwater structure—logs, rocks, old tires—where trout congregate. You’ll also be able to see fish as they suspend high in the water column, staging to eat dry flies. Without polarized lenses, you’ll have a much harder time spotting those things, if it’s even possible.
Now, you could go out and spend a nice chunk of change on sunglasses. I’ve been using the Costa Fantail Pro lenses with Gold Mirror Polarized Glass lenses for the past year, and I love them. They’re the best fishing shades I’ve ever worn. But they’re also $309, which is a ridiculous price to pay.
You don’t need to spend that much. Let’s run through a quick checklist of must-have features and explain some of the reasons why I opt for one over the other, so you can have the info you need to make a great decision.
- Lens Color: There are a lot of opinions here, but as someone who’s had the chance to review quite a few lenses over the years, my recommendation for freshwater anglers is to get a brown, amber, or gold lens. These colors offer a great amount of contrast, in addition to being polarized. They’re not too dark to use most of the day, although you’ll probably pop them off if you’re fishing the evening hatch. For offshore angling, blue or green lenses are a great place to start.
- Mirrored vs Standard Lenses: Mirrored lenses are darker than a standard polarized lens (and if you’re buying a mirrored lens, make sure it’s both mirrored and polarized), but they do reflect even more light, making them great at dealing with harsh conditions. So, if you’re consistently fishing in bright conditions, a mirrored lens is a great way to go. If you want something that’s a bit more versatile, a standard polarized lens is great.
- Glass vs Polycarbonate: Polycarbonate lenses are lighter, and if you break them, they don’t shatter. Polycarbonate can be cheaper, too. They are prone to scratching, however. Glass lenses offer greater clarity and more resistance to scratches, but they’re heavier than poly lenses. To be honest, I can’t really tell the difference between the weight of the two after a day of fishing, but that’s just one person’s opinion. I’ve opted to get glass lenses lately, because I can tell a clarity and durability difference with them. My glass lenses aren’t nearly as scratched up as my poly ones.
- Lens/Polarization Technology: The big-time optics companies have all sorts of fancy lens technology they brag about. To be completely honest, I can’t tell much of a difference between one high-end lens and the other, so long as they’re both the same color. I’m sure there’s a difference between Costa’s lenses and Smith’s, but it’ll take a more discerning eye than mine to explain what they are. My advice here is to largely ignore the lens technology chatter and instead look for a pair of shades that fit well and have the design and lens color you want.
Wrapping Up
Whether you buy a polarized pair of shades from the gas station or you drop money on some from a big-name brand, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re picking the right lens color for your fishing situations, and you’re not getting confused or swayed by marketing mumbo-jumbo.
Personally, I’ve found it’s worth the extra scratch to buy the nicer pair of shades. I use a sunglasses leash to keep them from falling off my neck and into the river (which I did with a pair of $200 glasses once), and the shades I wear on the river are only used there. Otherwise, they are on the rearview mirror in my truck. That’s been the best system I’ve found for not losing or damaging my nice fishing sunglasses.
I also like glass lenses, and some of the newer frame materials are really light. As someone who’s fortunate enough to spend a lot of time on the water, a nice pair of sunglasses feels like a legitimate expense for me. It may not be for you, and that’s fine. I don’t think you’re getting a lesser experience from your gas station shades. As long as they’re polarized, you’ll be in great shape.