Polarised glasses for fishing

If there is one inexpensive extra that immediately makes you a better angler, it is polarised glasses. They filter the glare off the surface so you can suddenly look into the water: fish, structure, edges and your own bait. On top of that they protect the eyes against hooks and sun for a whole day at the water.

Why you see more

Without them you mostly meet a mirror of the sky. With them the underwater landscape appears. You see fish moving, hunting or following the bait, so you fish directed instead of casting blind. You see edges, shallows and inlets where fish often stand. And you see how your bait runs and when a fish is coming, so you can time the retrieve. Many people only discover with polaroids how much fish actually moves in front of them.

Lens colour and protection

If you have only one pair, pick brown lenses. They give good contrast in most light and cover the most situations. Grey is comfortable in strong sun; light or yellowish lenses help in overcast and dusk. Polaroids also stand between you and a hook in the air. UV protection matters because light at the water comes from above and reflects off the surface. A pair you actually wear all day beats an expensive pair left in the pocket. Combine the sight with the right time of day — bite times. Rest: clothes and accessories.