What Color Polarized Lens Is Best For Fishing

Welcome back! This review will take a beginner’s plunge into fly fishing sunglasses technology. We will tackle what color polarized lens is best for fishing, specifically fly fishing (no surprise!). A talk on lens color wouldn’t be complete unless we also answer related questions like what is the difference between polarized and non-polarized sunglasses. If you found yourself here but are not a fly fisherman, pull up a chair anyway and get comfortable! Lens color and polarization apply the same regardless of how you fish. The same guidance applies to women’s sunglasses as well. Hopefully, that is obvious, but we wanted to say it anyway!

Glad you are with us, and as always, thank you for taking the time to visit. We hope our deep dive into lens color will help make your next buying decision more straightforward and your purchase more successful.

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8 Important Considerations For Fly Fishing Sunglasses

The human eye is unique, incredibly versatile, and complex. It makes sense that a proper pair of sunglasses perfectly suited to protect and enhance our eye site would have a little tech built-in, and that is the case. And that tech goes well beyond just the eyes. It involves the face and head too. There are at least eight critical factors to consider when choosing the right sunglasses for your eager fly fishing eyes. As mentioned before, we will only focus on lens color today.

Frame Fit: Different face shapes to consider.
Frame Color: Balance style, coverage, performance.
Polarization / UV: Yes, always.
Lens Color: Multiple colors, each with unique advantages.
Visual Clarity: Glass outperforms polycarbonate.
Weight / Durability: Glass is more durable, polycarbonate weights less.
Style: Color, design, performance, durability.
Price: You might need more than one pair to cover all conditions.

Smith Guide’s Choice

The Guide’s Choice has been reimagined to exceed the needs of our most demanding customers. Incorporating our most advanced eyewear technologies, this style boasts wide temples and an aggressive wrap for superior light protection. Add to that premium Italian spring hinges, megol nose, and temple pads, a detachable sunglass leash, and optional premium 8 base ChromaPop or Techlite lenses, the Guide’s Choice is engineered for those that truly believe in the life outside walls.

Smith Optics Guide's Choice sunglasses in ChromaPop Glass Polarized Lenses | Best fly fishing sunglasses | Jumping Rise

Where To Buy

Buy On Amazon

Key Features

Premium Lenses: Durable & scratch resistant.
Regular Fitting: A large lens front designed to fit those with an average-sized head.
Climate: Smudge and moisture resistant coating for easy cleaning and clear optics

Tech Specs

Frame Colors: 8 Colors
Frame Material: Lightweight, flexible and durable TR90 frame
Frame Hinges: AutoLock hinges hold frames open for easy one-hand on and off.
Lens: ChromaPop+ Glass, Polarized, 100% UV Protection
Lens Color: Blue Mirror, Green Mirror, Bronze Mirror, Copper Mirror, Low Light Yellow, Brown,
Lens Curve: Base 8 Decentered

Size & Fit

Size: Medium-large (L)
Bridge Width: 17 mm
Lens Width: 42 mm
Lens Height: 62 mm
Temple Arm Length: 120 mm

Smith Guide’s Choice Customer Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
These glasses made a big difference in my ability to see features while wade fishing. Built in lanyard is a nice touch.
– Aw.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Impressed with clear vision to see fish in the shallows as I am a fly fishing guide.
– John H.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
These glasses have superior comfort, which is super important to me as I wear them all day every day. I love the clarity of the chroma pop lenses helps me identify fish in the water easily. These features are why I am on my 3rd consecutive pair!
– Bennett C

What Is The Difference Between Polarized And Non Polarized Sunglasses?

Polarized Lenses Are Essential For Fly Fishing

We could leave it at that, but we wouldn’t leave you hooked out on a line! Let’s reel it in a bit and keep it simple. A great tip to remember is that top sunglass manufacturers, those we are interested in for this review, use both polarization and lens color together as a team to deliver consistent performance in every possible fishing condition. Both are extremely important, in addition to UV protection, and so you will always see both together when you look at the product information on high-quality sunglasses.

How does polarization work?

What Color Polarized Lens Is Best For Fishing | Polarized v.s. non-polarized sunglasses. — Polarized Lenses

We might as well tackle the answer to how polarized lenses work while we are at it. The answer is surprisingly simple. It goes something like this.

Think of a mini blind hanging in front of a window in your house, cabin, trailer, it wherever you reside. Even when they are open, the only light that passes directly through the blind’s openings is visible to you on the other side. Another similar example of polarized lenses would be that of the blinders found on horses’ eyes when that house is part of a team pulling a carriage. I suppose about how is when a popular beer commercial comes to mind. Anyway, the horses wear blinders to limit distraction and maintain focus on what is important to them, the road ahead.

The same applies to polarized sunglasses. A polarized filter creates vertical openings that allow light rays that approach vertically to pass through. Polarized lenses prevent horizontal light from entering from any other direction. As a result, light bounces off the pond or river will not strain your eyes. Blocking this excess refracted light reduced the amount of work and resulting fatigue that your eyes would otherwise have to deal with. Polarized lenses, lens color, and Ultra-violet (UV) protection are a non-negotiable must-have in your fly fishing sunglasses. All three work together to block unwanted light, reduce eye fatigue, and keep you comfortable and fishing longer.

What Color Polarized Lens Is Best For Fishing?

Blue Polarized Fly Fishing Lenses

Ideal Conditions: When the sun is brightest, the light glare is most intense.
Example Scenario: Off-shore fishing on open, reflective water. Ocean or lake on a clear sunny day.
Key Benefits: Helps define contours enhances color perception.
Other Considerations: Aesthetically pleasing/trendy and well suited for casual wear.

Green Polarized Fly Fishing Lenses

Ideal Conditions: When light conditions are inconsistent. Bright light and shadows.
Example Scenario: Sight fishing fresh water and inshore. Pond, stream, or river. Practical when the sun is still good mid-morning through late afternoon.
Key Benefits: Dims glare while brightening shadows. Great multi-use color.
Other Considerations: Good lens choice if you can only afford one pair of glasses for fishing and everyday wear.

Gray Polarized Fly Fishing Lenses

Costa Del Mar “Gray Silver Mirror” Lenses

Ideal Conditions: Great lens choice if accurate color perception is essential. Best for long exposure, really bright conditions. Too dark for early in the morning or late afternoon use in “shadowy” light conditions. Great for light-sensitive eyes.
Example Scenario: Open wanter and in-shore sight fishing where light conditions are bright but not extreme contrast.
Key Benefits: True color perception and maximum glare reduction. The darkest tint that is available.
Other Considerations: Good choice for an all-in-one lens for sunny days. Not too flashy for casual wear.

Amber / Copper Polarized Fly Fishing Lenses

Ideal Conditions: Great for high-glare scenarios and lower light conditions. Kelps spot fish more effectively in and out of shadows in shallow water.
Example Scenario: In-shore fishing in lakes, streams, or shallow water. These are your Nymphing lenses, my angler friends!
Key Benefits: Track objects in and out of shadows in shallow water. Green looks greener, neon is faded.
Other Considerations: Like the gray lenses, these are a good choice for a “do everything” set of glasses. Not the top choice for aesthetics or trendiness.

Yellow Polarized Fly Fishing Lenses

Costa Del Mar “Sunrise Silver Mirror” Lenses

Ideal Conditions: Low light and cloudy conditions. Perfect early morning, late in the day, or under cloud cover.
Example Scenario: Early morning lake, stream, or pond fishing. Hooking those last few big ones as the sunset is going down. Fishing on dark mountain streams in canyons on questionable weather days. Foggy or hazy conditions on the water.
Key Benefits: Flashlight effect. Enhance dark light to make everything brighter than it is. Filters blue light.
Other Considerations: Not a good choice for a “do it all” pair of sunglasses. Definitely not a good choice for bright conditions or light-sensitive eyes. You might look a little goofy wearing these lenses around town.

Costa Fantail PRO

Anglers know as well as anyone—the best can always get better. We’ve taken that sentiment to heart with the Costa Fantail PRO. The slimmed-down brother of the Blackfin PRO.

Costa Fantail Pro Sunglasses in Gray Mirror lenses| Best sunglasses for fly fishing | Jumping Rise

Costa Fantail Pro Sunglasses in Silver Mirror lenses| Best sunglasses for fly fishing | Jumping Rise