by Nathan C.
I will explain why I think wooden sunglasses are the best for fishing.
For those fishermen / fisherwomen amongst us, we all know that having a set of polarized sunglasses can do wonders for our catching potential.
Fishes like to hide and roam around in sheltered areas in rivers, so they will swim around under overhanging trees or through vegetation that grows in the river.
However, they will always be on the lookout for some food, so keen anglers will be able to spot them if they know where to look.
Glare
The problem we face though, is the glare of the sun or the sky on the river surface, which means that you can’t see into the river UNLESS you have a pair of sunglasses with polarised lens.
It makes a world of difference looking into the river with a pair of polarised lens versus just trying to squint in a vain attempt to block out the reflection of the sun/sky on the top of the water.
It’s not just river fishing either. I have found that when float-fishing in the sea, it is much easier to spot your float in rough waters without the glare of the sun / sky when using sunglasses with polarised lenses, rather than finding that you’ve totally lost track of where your float should be.
Will any pair of sunglasses with polarised lens do?
Yes - to be fair - if you’re just interested in seeing through the glare on the surface of the river, then that’s all that’s needed.
(A good demo of looking through polarized lens is here: Polarized Sunglasses demo on water)
However, as you will see below, I believe that wooden sunglasses are the best type of sunglasses for fishing.
Safety and Protection
Having a sturdy pair of sunglasses will also protect your eyes against the influence of any anglers fishing near you. Be it wayward casting, splashing of potentially dirty river / sea water, sand being blown in your face – sunglasses will protect your eyes from all that.
Also, fishing is a sport that requires patience. You’ll probably be fishing for hours as opposed to a few minutes, so it’s important to protect your eyes from harmful rays from the sun. You’ll also have the added benefit of minimizing eye-strain from concentrating on a bright spot while waiting for your fish to bite.
The Best Sunglasses for Fishing
However, there is something else that fishermen / fisherwomen should consider when looking for the perfect pair of sunglasses for fishing.
Everyone knows that wood floats on water.
Every angler has experienced the pain of seeing something that belongs to them fall into the sea or river, never to be seen again because it has sunk quickly to the bottom.
However, sunglasses made of wood (and bamboo) will float. Even those that don’t have 100% wooden frames, but just have wooden arms will sink slowly compared to any non-wooden ones.
Therefore, I believe that the best sunglasses for fishing are ones that have wooden frames.
As a keen fisherman, I can confirm that I have dropped my sunglasses into the sea, but luckily, my ENVIES just floated there, allowing me to paddle over to just pick them up again.
Try it yourself
So don’t just take my word for it – consider wooden sunglasses for yourself when out fishing.
Nathan.