Seeing the fish can make all the difference in your fishing but protecting your eyes from reflection and glare is priceless. Where it’s important to first spot fish, then cast to them, polarized sunglasses have long been an integral piece of equipment. Flats anglers especially have come to rely on their ability to cut glare and render contrast to fish that survive by being able to disappear. More recently, freshwater anglers have also learned to appreciate the benefits of these specialized angling tools.

Why specialized? Because regular sunglasses, which only reduce the amount of visible light entering the eye, don’t help with glare, the real culprit as far as anglers are concerned. In fact, reflected light—or glare—has been proven to be seven to ten times brighter than ambient light. With polarized lenses that manage light properly, anglers will often be able to see a stream’s bottom, where before all they saw was a shiny sheet of surface water. When coupled with experience in picking up the sometimes-subtle shadows and shapes of a fish’s form within a stream, polarized lenses can immeasurably increase an angler’s efficiency.

Jim Teeny agrees. “I feel like the single biggest advantage I can have over the fish and other fishermen is the ability to spot fish,” he explained. “I do that through polarized sunglasses.”

Basically, light reflected from a horizontal surface moves from side to side. Some polarized lenses, like those designed by Action Optics, combat this reflected light with iodine crystals that are positioned in vertical rows on a sheet of film. Costa Del Mar, another major manufacturer of polarized lenses for outdoor endeavors, uses a film consisting of polyvinyl alcohol molecules running in parallel horizontal chains. Both function similarly, as the filter absorbs the glare, while still allowing certain light rays to reach the eye.

There are many other reasons to wear sunglasses while streamside, safety being foremost among them. Properly designed and manufactured models will provide protection against ultraviolet rays and reduce eye fatigue. Wading anglers will also enjoy safer river crossings, as polarized lenses will allow them to see the bottom and choose the best routes of stream navigation. For similar reasons, rafters and powerboat drivers use the lenses to avoid underwater sweepers and other obstructions that can severely damage a prop or inflatable raft. Plus, having an extra layer of defense between your eyes and the hooks that may be zipping through the air can never be a bad thing.

Mostly, they benefit anglers when actually fishing. As Teeny pointed out, anglers with polarized lenses can avoid much of the downtime associated with working anadromous fish or an unknown stretch of river because dead water can be avoided. They can also sight-cast to individual fish and make exceedingly precise presentations, always a key when fishing Pacific salmon or steelhead.

When choosing a set of polarized glasses, then, more than just fashion sense must come into play. Jake Jordan, a Florida Keys tarpon guide who spends part of his year teaching fly-fishing schools in such far-flung places as Guatemala, the Bahamas, and right here in Alaska, says that to get the most productivity out of their lenses, anglers should choose a tint that’s designed for the conditions of the region they’ll be fishing.

“Polarization is like Venetian blinds,” Jordan explained. “It’s not a color but a shield that filters light.”

Thus, there’s no such thing as clear polarized lenses, since the polarizing capabilities of a lens are proportional to the density of the film. Likewise, lenses that are tinted or that display a mirrored coating don’t necessarily have increased polarity; they’re just darker lenses.

Each of the manufacturers mentioned earlier—Action Optics and Costa Del Mar—offer a variety of color options for consumers, as do most of their competitors. Generally speaking, the colors closer to the brown end of the scale tend to be the top choices for freshwater anglers, while those that spend considerable time searching for fish on the saltwater flats gravitate towards lenses with a rose or Vermillion tint to them. Brown or copper colored lenses also seem to be the most prevalent choices for all-around use.

“Color is very, very important,” Jordan continued. “I personally use various lenses, usually starting with the tan/yellow/amber shades in freshwater and moving towards a dark rose or Vermillion lens for saltwater situations. However, I can wear brown lenses in any situation.”

“I’ve been happy with brown for both fresh and saltwater situations,” echoes Jim Teeny. “But for purely saltwater applications, my wife Donna strongly prefers a rose lens.” Continuing, Teeny reiterated the fact that a lens can work exceptionally well in one environment and not at all in another. “The color I use most often is amber, because it’s a brighter lens that allows a person to see a little earlier and a little later in the day. However, on the flats, the amber can actually start to hurt your eyes on a bright, sunny day.”

There are a few other colors available in most brands of polarized sunglasses on the market, namely the gray lenses popular with bluewater anglers. As Jordan explains, though, this style of lens wasn’t made with the freshwater angler in mind. “The lenses towards the brown end of the spectrum give the fish and the fish’s shadow some contrast in the water and against the bottom,” he said, noting that in freshwater, blue, gray, or green lenses only serve to make fish blend in. “You’re better off with no sunglasses at all if that’s all you’ve got.”

Naturally, anglers should also consider the comfort of the frames and the type and quality of the polarized lenses before making a purchase. “There are definitely different grades and definitely different qualities of sunglasses,” Teeny agreed. “People should also search for a product that’s comfortable for them and their eyes.”

As far as the choice of a lens material goes, there are two primary types on the market—polycarbonate lenses and those made from glass, which are more expensive. The latter type of lens is also more scratch resistant and provides the greatest visual acuity, while polycarbonate is an extremely lightweight yet virtually unbreakable material.

Both Action Optics and Costa Del Mar also offer prescription polarized sunglasses made with CR-39 lens material. A third option for those who wear glasses are the polarized lenses offered by Cocoons, which are designed to fit comfortably over standard prescription glasses, without sacrificing style. And whether you wear glasses already or not, if you fish or even if you plan to be on the water at all, polarized sunglasses are a tool well worth considering.

“Of all the items I’ve ever used in fly-fishing, no individual product has helped me more,” Teeny concluded, adding that the ability to watch and study fish as they exist in their own environment is of invaluable benefit to anglers. “All you can do with polarized lenses is learn. Besides, I don’t know of anything more exciting than looking out at the river and spotting a big rainbow—and then fishing for him.”

Action Optics www.actionoptics.com

There are 33 frames available in the Action Optics line of polarized sunglasses, in styles both contemporary and classic. Six specialized lens tints are also available for most frames, and with some, anglers can choose between constant density or photochromic lenses. The company also offers two specialized exterior treatments—Silver Flash and Blue Mirror—to select lenses and models.

For a good general-purpose photochromic lens, Action Optics offers Clearwater Copper, a lens that provides medium contrast with increased definition. For lower light conditions, Freshwater Amber lenses are an anglers’ best bet, as the yellowish tint of the color enhances depth perception and gathers more light. All-Hour Brown is a lighter density photochromic lens that performs sufficiently during periods of lower light and then darkens with increasing brightness.

If a constant density lens is preferred, Action Optics also offers Silver Creek Brown, another good choice for an all-around lens. The Silver Creek Brown lenses provide both true color transmission and increased contrast. Key Largo Grey is a medium-dark lens that preserves color relationships and performs best on the open ocean, as do the Blue Mirror Grey lenses, the last in the Action Optics color line. The Key Largo lenses work best in medium to bright conditions, while anglers frequently encountering bright conditions might want to try the Blue Mirror models.

Costa Del Mar www.costadelmar.com

Over twenty years ago, a group of dedicated offshore anglers decided to build a better pair of polarized sunglasses. Costa Del Mar is what they came up with.

Now headquartered in Ormond Beach, FL, the company offers anglers more than 30 styles and 16 lens options. For offshore fishing, the Costa Del Mar line features a Gray lens and a Blue Mirror model, which should be used for the brightest conditions. Freshwater anglers will want to check out the Amber lenses, which enable increased contrast in most light conditions, whether under a bright sun or a cloud-filled sky.

If fishing in the early morning or the latest hours of evening light are on the docket, Costa Del Mar offers a high-contrast specialty lens, Sunrise. The brightest field of vision is obtainable in the Vermillion lenses, which utilize a rose/copper tint to heighten visual acuity and enhance color. The final color currently offered by the company is Green Mirror, which combines the amber lens color with a green mirror coating, both of which are encased inside the lens for maximum scratch resistance.

Cocoons www.liveeyewear.com

According to a number of studies, at least six out of every ten Americans wears prescription eyeglasses. In the past, that severely limited options when it came to obtaining quality polarized lenses for outdoor use, as clip-ons are insufficient and prescription sunglasses can be very expensive. However, the Cocoons line of polarized sunglasses provides complete protection while remaining affordable. Plus, unlike many other slip-over styles of sunglasses, Cocoons don’t sacrifice comfort or looks.

Designed to completely isolate the eyes, Cocoons deliver 360 degrees of protection from the elements, allowing the eyes to remain relaxed and focused on the task at hand—in Alaska, that usually means fishing. The lenses are scratch resistant and are complimented by flexible hypo-allergenic nylon frames that have been engineered to fit comfortably over prescription eyewear, or to be worn alone. Cocoons are available in a full range of sizes, frame colors, and like both the Action Optics and Costa Del Mar lines, lens tints.