SUNGLASSES
By Montana Grant

Posted: April 22, 2018

Seeing is believing when fishing. It is amazing how often I see fishermen fishing without eye protection. Think about it, sharp hooks, air full of flying bugs, sharp twigs and sticks, other fishermen casting flies and 9-foot rods, bright sun… need I say more?

Sunglasses do two important jobs. First, they protect your eyes. Second, they help you to see fish, oh and for the Millennials, they help you look good too.

A safety string is a great idea. Attach a string or cord to your ear end of your eyewear. This allows you to always know where your glasses are and keep them from getting scratched. If you take them off, put them into a case. Anything other than this procedure will result in busted or scratched glasses.

Cleaning your eyewear is an eye-opening process. Don’t use your grubby chew stained t-shirt or a snot rag for this task. Soft tissue or cleaning cloths designed to clean glasses are best. A shot of cleaning spray is ideal but clean water, not spit, will do in a pinch. When at home, use good hot water and a dab of dish wash soap. This really cleans the glasses and their frames from sweat and grease. Thoroughly rinse and dry with the soft tissue.

Different colors are better in different situations. Polarized glasses really cut the sun’s rays back. Brown polarized glasses are best in forests, and stream scenarios. Grey or blue work well on open water. Yellow or vermillion work best in low light conditions.

When looking for fish, look for movement and shadows. Fish are normally avoiding raptors and predators. On heavily fished waters, they move to structure, and along deeper current edges. The top of a fish is dark and serves as camo for the fish. The sides and belly are lighter and often reflect light. When they move and turn on their side, you will see the flash. Fish are always moving since they can not move their eyes. Like a bird, they need to constantly change the position of their head.

If you need a prescription, there are other options. “Coccoons”, and other brands, are oversized, and inexpensive, polaroid glasses that cover your regular glasses.  For around $50 you can enter the polarized world. These glasses are light and designed to fit regular glasses into them. They may not be as stylish, but they work well.

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Montana Grant

For more Montana Grant, visit his blog at www.montanagrantfishing.com.

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