The greatest thing about fishing is the myriad of diverse opportunities to catch different species of fishing in different types of water. But this also means you might prefer one lens color over another depending the type of water you fish most often or the conditions you fish in most often.
Lens color makes a difference on different types of water and in different types of light conditions. You can have the right pair of sunglasses for your water based on the combination of the base color and the outer coating. Let's dive into when each color excels and the differences between base colors, outer coatings and more so you can pick the best pair of sunglasses for where you fish.
POLARIZED LENSES IN GENERAL
First it helps to understand how polarized lenses work and then you can understand the needs for base colors, outside finishes and how all of them together work in conjunction to give you better vision under the water's surface while protecting your long-term eyesight. Polarization is simply the process of filtering certain wavelengths of light out which reduces glare and cuts through the water's surface to see more clearly into it. The filtering of light and keeping certain impairing wavelengths out allows better light to filter in and give you better vision in direct sunlight.
By adding base colors, you can filter additional spectrums of light to make the lenses even more optimal for different types of waters. Additionally this polarization will do more than just help you see, it will actually block out the same harmful UVA UVB spectrums of light that burn your skin and can permanently damage your eyesight. So it's improving your ability to see on the water while also protecting your eyes from ultraviolet rays.
BASE COLORS
Most polarized sunglass lenses are offered in a handful of base colors either amber/copper bases, grey/green bases or yellow bases. There are some other colors that are offered out there but grey/green, amber/copper and yellow are the three main bases most sunglass makers carry to cover most of the bases for anglers when combined with mirror coatings that can further enhance color range, clarity and reflect additional light in high sun conditions.
Starting with the grey/green base lens, you will find these to be preferred for fishing in the brightest conditions with a lot of blue light reflecting back. So these are the optimal lens color for fishing big water, offshore or large reservoirs with deep blue waters. When applied with a blue mirror coating it can reflect additional light off the ocean or blue waters of a large reservoir giving you an optimal viewing experience.
Island Optics offers a grey base lens for open water, offshore anglers with a variety of blue mirror or straight grey finishes to compliment.
Next, you have a copper or amber based lens. This brownish orange tint is often better for freshwater lakes and rivers and shallow waters where the bottom is seen a lot more clearly. Coupled with something like a green mirror, these lenses make things really pop in shallower freshwater environments and not as bright sunny conditions as you find on the open ocean.
Island Optics offers an amber based lens that compliments well with a green mirror finish as well as a red mirror finish or flat brown lens for optimal viewing in that middle brightness shallower water range.
Finally, you have the less common yellow base lens. These let in the maximum amount of light so they offer the least amount of reflection protection. But this is an optimal base lens when you fish in a lot of low light conditions that could either be from early and late parts of the day, overcast or rainy conditions or extremely shaded waters like you find in a lot of small rivers and creeks or heavily wooded lakes.
Often yellow based lenses will be offered with a silver mirror option or now mirror option at all to let in the most light while still cutting glare and some reflection to be able to see into the water in much lower light conditions.
Island Optics is currently developing a new yellow based lens option for anglers.
FRONT OF LENS FINISHES
We touched briefly but front lens finishes are generally some sort of mirror or colored surface coating that enhances or aids in the desired clarity and optical performance you are looking for in the perfect fishing sunglasses. A mirror finish can help reflect additional light away giving you better vision into the water. And you can blend characteristics of base lenses with various mirrors to cover multiple bases in a single lens.
For example you can start with a grey/green base and throw a green mirror over it to let you block maximum light in open water, but still be useful in shallow water situations too. Similarly you can use an amber base and go heavier on the mirror to block out more light to give you better big water offshore protection.
COLORS BASED ON WATER COLOR AND CLARITY
If you fish blue water (saltwater, big deep lakes like Lake Erie), a grey or green base with a blue mirror is optimal.
If you fish green or shallow tannic freshwater, a copper based is optimal with a green mirror.
If you fish a lot of low light conditions, a yellow base lens with a silver mirror is optimal.
But don't think these are hard-fast rules or that you can't crossover. You're still going to be able to see into shallow lake water with a grey base and blue mirror pretty well. As the sun diminishes you will lose some of your ability to see into the water, but it will still be far superior to no sunglasses or lesser quality sunglasses. Same goes for any of the bases and coatings. Part of it is aesthetics for anglers too. Maybe you just like a green mirror better. That won't severely limit your ability to see into deep blue waters.
But knowing the bases and the coatings and their combinations will help you choose the best sunglasses for you and how you fish.
COLORS BASED ON WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES
If you fish in really bright sunny conditions you might prefer a grey base with a blue mirror more. But if you fish in more shady areas than a copper is somewhat middle of the road as far as light penetration and yellow offers the most. So again you can go with a copper base and have a little more flexibility in range of available sunlight and fishing open areas versus shaded areas as well as times of the day.
So think about when and where you fish and then consider the variables you see most often and pick a good options that covers the majority of your fishing optimally and you will still be able to get by the rest of the time.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LENSES FOR FISHING
It all boils down to preference. Some folks think they look better with a red mirror tan a blue. Nothing wrong with that. Don't let lens base suggestions steer you away from choosing sunglasses you like. Again you're going to still cut down reflections with good quality polarized lenses like Island Optics innovative OX2 lenses. The lenses are still optimized to give the best contrast, color density and protection in a wide range of scenarios.
If you're a diehard angler, then base and mirror combinations might matter a little more to you. A lot of avid anglers care about maximized vision over aesthetics when spending long days stalking fish under the water's surface. So choose the sunglasses that best fit you as an angler and buy from Island Optics with confidence.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST ISLAND OPTICS FISHING SUNGLASSES
The Alovis brothers are fifth-generation eye-care specialists. Their family has been protecting and enhancing their customers eyesight for more than 100 years. Now they are taking their generational knowledge of eye care and producing high quality sunglass lenses and frames that will offer anglers and boaters the top features and protections in sunglasses while also providing a much better price point than they are used to for sunglasses of this quality.
The Island Optics team commits daily to solely making sunglasses for people who spend a large part of their time on the water. They all actively participate in saltwater and freshwater activities, and they are on a mission to provide the best fishing sunglasses at better price points for folks who live an active water lifestyle while also giving back to local communities to improve water quality and wildlife habitat.
Each pair of Island Optics sunglasses are backed by a One Year Limited Warranty and a Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty.
