When it comes to fly fishing, having the right equipment is essential for a successful and enjoyable experience. One piece of equipment that should not be overlooked is a good pair of sunglasses. Not only do sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, but they also help you see more clearly in the water, making it easier to spot fish and navigate through rocky terrain. Enjoy this blog on Sunglasses 101.
There are a lot of options out there when I comes to eyewear for fly fishing! In this article we are going to share with you the top three brands that we sell, both online and in our stores! Polarized lenses are particularly useful for fishing because they reduce glare and improve visibility in the water. Additionally, all are equipped with 100% UV protection, which is important for protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. An even nicer added bonus is that they protect your eyes from the hooks that are being flung through the air!
Let’s begin with two brands that have been trusted by fishermen for years, and they offer a range of lens options to suit different fishing environments.
Costa Del Mar Sunglasses
COSTA Sunglasses are known for their high-quality lenses, which are made from polarized glass OR polycarbonate materials. Costa Sunglasses’ patented 580 lens technology goes a step further by blocking the perfect amount of harsh yellow light and potentially harmful blue light while enhancing reds, blues and greens. Essentially, Costa 580 lens technology keeps the bad light out, and lets the good light in. The result: less haze, less blur, greater contrast and greater clarity.
Costa Sunglasses offers the top seven lens colors options including mirrored lenses in both glass and plastic high-performance technologies. Consider where you might spend your time on the water or outdoors to choose the best lens color for your specific environment. Learn More about Choosing a Lens Color. For inshore and everyday fly fishing, we recommend the following lens options from COSTA:
- Green Mirror – These lenses have a green base color with a mirror coating applied to the outside of the lens. The green base color provides enhanced contrast and color perception, while the mirror coating reduces glare and improves visual clarity in bright conditions. Take a look the Costa Reefton Pro Lenses!
- Copper Base
- 10% light transmission
- Sight fishing in full sun
- High contrast
- Gray Silver Mirror – These lenses have a neutral gray base color with a silver mirror coating applied to the outside of the lens. The mirror coating helps to reduce glare and provide enhanced visual clarity, while the neutral gray base color provides true-to-life color representation and is suitable for a range of lighting conditions. Take a look at the Costa Black Fin Pro Lenses!
- Gray Base
- 10% light transmission
- Everyday activities
- Anti-fatigue
- Overcast days
- Reduces glare, especially off water
- Copper Silver Mirror – Copper silver mirror lenses are a type of lens commonly used in sunglasses and other eyewear. These lenses have a copper base color with a silver mirror coating applied to the outside of the lens. The mirror coating helps to reduce glare and enhance visual clarity, while the copper base color provides contrast and depth perception in various lighting conditions. Take a look at the Costa Panga Lenses
- Copper Base
- 12% light transmission
- Excellent for sight fishing
- Everyday activities
- Most versatile
- Cloudy days
Smith Sunglasses
Cast out with clarity. ChromaPop™ lens technology gives you better below-water definition and less glare, all while enhancing color perception, for better outings and longer days. For inshore and everyday fly fishing, we recommend the following lens options from Smith:
- ChromaPop Bronze Mirror – ChromaPop Bronze Mirror lenses are a great all-around option for inshore and freshwater fishing. They enhance contrast and color, making it easier to spot fish in the water, and they are ideal for low-light conditions. Additionally, the bronze mirror coating helps reduce glare on the water’s surface. Check out Smith Guide Choice Lenses!
- 15% Visible Light Transmission
- High contract
- Brown base finished with a deep bronze mirror for a touch of style and performance
- everyday use, especially when scenery is abundant while you’re spending time on the trail or road
- ChromaPop Ignitor – If you frequently fish in variable lighting conditions, the ChromaPop Ignitor lens is a great option. It has a rose tint that enhances contrast and improves visibility in both bright and low-light conditions. Additionally, the Ignitor lens provides excellent depth perception, which is important when navigating through rocky or uneven terrain.
- 32% Visible Light Transmission
- Proprietary universal lens tint designed to reduce eye fatigue while enhancing contrast and depth perception in all conditions
- A versatile lens tint designed to be used all season long
- ChromaPop Gray Green – Gray Green lenses are another versatile option for inshore and freshwater fishing. They are great for bright, sunny conditions and provide true color perception. They also offer excellent glare reduction and are ideal for open water fishing. Check out Smith Low Down 2 Lenses!
- 12% Visible Light Transmission
- Gray base lens with a green hue to amplify the colors of life outdoors
- Maximum clarity allowing you to effortlessly see more detail.
Bajio Sunglasses
Bajio Sunglasses is a brand that has been gaining popularity in the fly fishing community, and they offer a range of lens options to suit different fishing environments. In this article, we’ll focus on the lenses that are best for inshore and everyday fly fishing. Another really cool feature about Bajio is there, Lapis technology that blocks 95% of blue light up to 440 nm and the majority of intense yellow light at its peak of 580 nm. This means no more hazy days and no more color interference. For inshore and everyday fly fishing, we recommend the following lens options from Bajio:
- Green Mirror – These lenses have a brown base color with a green mirror coating applied to the outside of the lens. The mirror coating helps to reduce glare and enhance visual clarity, while the brown base color provides true-to-life color representation and contrast in a variety of lighting conditions. Check out the Bajio Vega Lenses!
- 14% Visible Light Transmission
- Brown Base
- Green Mirror lenses are a great all-around option for inshore and freshwater fishing
- They enhance contrast and color, making it easier to spot fish in the water, and they are ideal for low-light conditions.
- The green mirror coating helps reduce glare on the water’s surface.
- Silver Mirror/Copper Base – These lenses have a copper base color with a silver mirror coating applied to the outside of the lens. The mirror coating helps to reduce glare and enhance visual clarity, while the copper base color provides contrast and depth perception in various lighting conditions. Check out the Bajio Piedra Lenses!
- 16% Visible Light Transmission
- Copper Base – works well for treelined Western rivers and lake fishing.
- Medium light
- High contrast lens
- Great for fishing in both bright sun and lower light.
- Rose Mirror/Red Base – specifically designed to enhance color contrast and reduce glare in bright conditions, making them ideal for fishing and boating.
- 18% Visible Light Transmission
- Rose Base – also works great for Western rivers and lake fishing.
- Medium light
- High contrast lens
- Great for fishing in both bright sun and lower light.
- Violet Mirror –
- 18% Visible Light Transmission
- Red Base
- Shallow water & sight fishing
- Lightest high contrast lens yet
- See fish clearly in all conditions from sunrise to sunset.
In conclusion, a good pair of sunglasses is a crucial piece of equipment for inshore and everyday fly fishing. All three sunglass brands offer a range of lens options that are perfect for these types of fishing environments. You can rest assured that you’ll have the clarity and protection you need to make the most of your fishing experience
