Sunglasses are a key to fishing and especially when we are musky.  Being able to see follows and keep an eye on your lure is extremely important.  The price range of glasses can vary a ton and depending on what you want to spend, the amount of time you spend on the water and what you are looking for it can be a huge decision.   Below are a few lists compiled by https://www.thewadinglist.com/ that gives you options based on budget, mid range prices and higher end. 

 I personally use the Ocean Wave brand in back water green.  I have been using these glasses for long time and now that I have to prescription glasses I have to use the glass lens.  I like the amber lens as well because they do brighten up the surroundings and allows me to wear them on the cloudy and sunny days.  I can also wear these glasses later into the evening.  Take a look at the list below and see what you think. 

Another popular brand that many of you might have seen at the musky shows would H3O Polarized Glasses.  What makes these glasses so unique is they are sold with 3 color styles of lens that are interchangeable depending on water conditions and weather conditions.  They have a variety of styles and are very affordable and made with the angler in mind.  The list of lens and colors are below.  

Best Budget Fishing Glasses

1. Kast King Toccoa Polarized Sunglasses

Most importantly, the KastKing Toccoa Polarized provide 100% UV protection and polarized glasses. We tested them in different environments, fishing a river in low light conditions and during bright sunshine in the Mediterranean. The polarisation capability is flawless and gives you a good look into the water. Their greyish glas makes them a good overall choice if you don’t want to spend hundreds of $ for a pair of sunglasses or if you just picked up fly fishing and want to find out if you stick with it.

The fit is less snug than the Oakley Split Shot or the Smith Highwater and can be better compared to the Costa Del Mar Blackfin Pro. Due to the shape it does not block out glare as well. On the other hand, the looser fit makes it a great allrounder and a pair of sunglasses that you can easily wear around town without looking like a hardcore sports enthusiast.

The glass works well in low light situations although it cannot keep up with the Smith Highwater ChromaPop for example which plays in another league. On very bright days you should opt for a darker glass.

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2. Suncloud Polarized Sunglasses

The Suncloud Polarized Sunglasses are a great entry level pair of polarized fishing sunglasses if you are looking for brown lenses. Brown lenses are a great all round choice for fishing glasses and work well in low light situations as well. Of course, the Suncloud Polarized Sunglasses also provide 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays.

The Suncloud Polarized Sunglasses are a good choice for women as well since their frame is not too wide (dimensions of the frame: 137mmLens: 43mm high x 58mm wide). They are also available with polarized blue mirror glasses which work really well in bright environments like when fishing in the sea. Suncloud Polarized Sunglasses come with a warranty against manufacturer defects.

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3. TOREGE Polarized Sports Sunglasses for Men

The TOREGE Polarized Sports Sunglasses for Men are a solid entry level choice if you are looking for some polarized fishing sunglasses for your first days on the water. They come with highly scratch-resistant glasses and in a variety of colors to cover all light situations you might encounter

A no-slip nose pad and holes at the end of the temples to attach a strap (that comes with the TOREGE Polarized Sports Sunglasses for Men are features you would not expect from an entry level product – great! They also come with a lifetime warranty. You can’t go wrong with these fishing sunglasses – great value for money.

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Best Mid Range Polarised Fishing Sunglasses

4. Huk Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

The Huk Polarized Fishing Sunglasses are another great pair of fly fishing sunglasses for smaller budgets. At less than $50 they provide 100% UV protection, polarisation and water repellent lenses.

They have a snug fit that makes them comfortable to wear all day and prevents sunlight from hitting your eyes. The Huk Polarized Fishing Sunglasses come in a variety of colors for all kinds of different fishing situations.

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5. Bollé Anaconda

The French manufacturer Bollé has been known for decades for the high quality of its sports sunglasses. The Bollé Anaconda in polarized offshore blue offers an entry into high-quality polarized glasses for well under $100. It’s also available with grey lenses, which is the perfect choice if you’re looking for an all-rounder.

The Bollé Anaconda have a snug fit which makes them a good fit for other outdoor sports such as skiing or mountain biking as well. All Bollé sunglasses come with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. If you’re looking for a very good pair of polarized glasses for fishing that won’t take the hair right off your head, the Bollé Anaconda is an excellent choice.

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Best Premium Fishing Sunglasses

6. Oakley Split Shot Prizm Sapphire Polarized

The facts:

Frame color: Matte Translucent Blue

Lens color: Prizm™ Sapphire Polarized

We wore the Oakley Split Shot during bright days on the water since that is the environment that these lenses are designed for. If you want a higher light transmission you should opt for the Prizm Shallow Water Polarized lens option. This makes the Oakley Split Shot a better option for cloudier days and the time during dusk and dawn.

Oakley has been known for building high performance fishing sunglasses for a while. The Split Shot have a great, close fit that shields your eyes from the sun completely. Another lovely feature is the detachable leash that holds your shades when you take them off. 

These lenses are a great choice if you are into other outdoor sports besides fly fishing such as skiing or mountain biking. Their tight fit protects you against air stream when executing these sports.

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7. Costa Del Mar Blackfin Pro

The facts: 

Frame Colour: Dark Blue

Lens Colour: Grey

Lens Material: Polarized Glass (580)

Frame Fit: Large

Costa has made a name for themselves amongst fly fishermen. Their polarized fishing sunglasses are amongst the best on the market. One of our favourites is the Blackfin Pro thanks to its tight and snug fit. Its lens width of 60mm and a temple length of 121 mm makes this model a great fit for wider, bigger heads.

The grey 580 lenses are a great all around choice and perform well in all light situations. Costa praises their glass as lighter and thinner than other brands and we found the Blackfin Pro very comfortable to wear all day.

The clarity of the colours is stunning and the polarization of the water’s surface works excellently as you would expect from a brand as experienced as Florida-based Costa. You can choose from a wide variety of glasses depending on the environment you fish in. As with the Oakley Split Shot Prizm we chose for the test, Costa’s Blue Mirror glass is a great choice if you fish in saltwater a lot. For the utmost in low light qualities the Sunrise Silver Mirror is the way to go.

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8. Smith Optics Highwater ChromaPop

Smith Optics is another manufacturer that has a long tradition in producing some of the best polarized fishing sunglasses. They praise themselves to add another dimension to polarisation through their ChromaPop technology. Here’s what’s behind it:

How ChromaPop works

Through a proprietary ChromaPop lens technology, you can see detail and color beyond normal capabilities. ChromaPop filters two specific wavelengths of light that cause color confusion. By doing this the lens delivers greater definition, more natural color, and unmatched clarity to allow you to see more detail.

NORMALLY

The eye’s retina has trouble distinguishing between blue and green, and red and green light perception.

WITH CHROMAPOP

ChromaPop filters these specific crossovers, allowing greater definition, natural color, and clarity.

For our test we chose the Smith Highwater ChromaPop fishing sunglasses polarized. They come in a variety of color options as for most quality manufacturers. The Blue Mirror variant is a great choice for bright days on the water. The Gray Green option is perfect if you are looking for an allrounder. If you want the utmost in low light qualities which can be especially helpful fishing during the colder months, the ChromaPop Plus Polarchromic Ignitor is the way to go.

We have to admit that the ChromaPop Plus Polarchromic Ignitor is a fantastic low light lense. It brings out every little detail and makes you see extremely clear.

The Smith Highwater ChromaPop frame is similar to the Oakley Split Shot Prizm lenses. It has a more snug fit than the Costa Half Moon Ocearch for example. This prevents glare in any situation. The tighter fit make them a great choice for other outdoor sports such as mountain biking and skiing as well. Compared to the Oakley Split Shot Prizm it is designed for people with a wider face.

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9. Maui Jim Peahi Polarized Sunglasses

The Hawaiian manufacturer Maui Jim is another premium brand when it comes to fly fishing sunglasses. The Peahi has a tight fit similar to the Oakley Split Shot Prizm but is a little bigger. It has rubber insert on the inside where the glasses meet the nose. The very thin glass lenses provide excellent polarization and take stress off the eyes on a long day of fishing.

The Maui Jim Peahi comes in a wide range of colors to provide a solution for any possible fishing situation. The bronze polarized lenses are great for low light situations and fishing during dawn. For really bright conditions the Blue Hawaii Polarized version is an excellent choice.

The rubber inlay where the glasses sit on the nose are a neat little feature as the nose pad ensures the Maui Jim Peahi lenses stay on your nose even on hot days when you sweat.

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10. Costa Del Mar Women’s Panga Square

The Costa Del Mar Women’s Panga Square are specifically designed for more slenders faces of women. Costa is known for producing some of the best fishing glasses on the market. Their Costa Del Mar Women’s Panga Square. are equipped with their latest 580p lens which offers supreme protection from UV rays and a fantastic polarisation.

The Costa Del Mar Women’s Panga Square are available in a wide range of colors for all situations. If you are mostly out on a boat in bright conditions go for the Blue Mirror Polarized or the Green Mirror Polarized glasses. If you are looking for an allrounder, the Grey Silver Mirror Polarized are an excellent option. If you are mostly out on the river in low light situations go for a lens that offers the utmost in low light qualities such as the Copper Polarized 580.

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The technology behind polarized fishing glasses

Polarized fishing sunglasses emphasize certain parts of the light and provide stronger contrasts. They are important when fly fishing because their special lenses prevent or reduce light reflexes and reflections for example on the water’s surface.

Your eyes get less tired because they don’t constantly have to adapt to new lighting conditions. First and foremost they enable you to literally look into the water. Spotting fish gets easier no matter whether you fish in fresh or saltwater. Polarized fishing sunglasses also help you to figure out underwater structures more precisely or can support your vision when wading.

This image from Smith Optics’ website neatly explains the advantages of using polarized fishing sunglasses: