The Importance of Good Eyewear in Fishing
All serious anglers know and understand how important good eyewear is in fishing, without a doubt. What I’ve learned is that every different environment and every different person sees things a little bit differently.
Today, we wanted to show you what different lens colors look like and some of my favorite options for various conditions on the water. We’ve got footage out on the water fishing with different lens colors in basically the same light conditions because, on any given day, it can change by the minute.
What you need first thing in the morning compared to up in the day compared to when it starts raining or if you’re driving a boat can all be different. There’s a lot of personal preference involved, so we just wanted to show you what they all look like.
Growing Up with Clear Water in Michigan
I grew up in Michigan, where we have a lot of clear water. I learned at an early age that I’m always looking for something in the water—fish, baitfish, grass, rocks, things like that. Having the optimal lens color and frame for that situation to really block that light makes a difference in what you can see, and seeing is everything.
Every body of water has a different tint—sometimes it’s a little brown, sometimes it’s a little green, and it can be blue. The light condition can make a big difference in what you see out there on the water.
One of the things I do is experiment with different lens tints on a given day, but if you’re just trying to pick one for yourself, you probably don’t have that option. That’s why I’m going to go through and tell you what I like each lens color for.
Blue Mirror Lens: Best for Bright Conditions
For me, the blue mirror lens is probably the most popular lens color that Costa sells, and for a reason. It’s great in real bright conditions, and a lot of offshore anglers like to use it.
However, having a dark base or a smoke-based lens with that blue mirror is not optimal for many situations where I’m looking for grass or fish in the shallows or cover and things like that. For just really blocking a lot of sunlight and for blue water out there in the open, it’s a great option.
Copper Silver Lens: Ideal for Sight Fishing
Copper silver is one of my favorite lenses for sight fishing. When I say sight fishing, I mean when I’m looking for objects like cover, baitfish, grass, bass, stumps, and rocks. It’s a really good option. It works well in bright conditions and is still a good low-light lens.
Everybody’s eyes are a little bit different, and many of my friends think it’s the number one color when they’re sight fishing. It’s a great choice, and you can see from the aerial footage that it makes things pop on these flats.
Green Mirror Lens: Enhances Green Environments
The green mirror is another excellent choice. I believe that a lighter base, such as an amber-based lens, is one of the best colors for sight fishing and for seeing objects in the water.
The green mirror really seems to help things pop when you have a lot of green around. In Florida, where there’s a lot of vegetation, or in Michigan, where we’ve got a lot of grass in the lakes, and you’re looking for green bass, it pops.
It’s great in bright sunshine but also still a good lower-light option. Many people find it to be the best for various conditions, and you can see from the aerial footage that it’s a great lens.
Sunrise Silver Lens: A Must-Have for Low Light Conditions
Sunrise Silver is a lens I couldn’t live without. It’s a fantastic lens designed for low light conditions, and it’s super good. Early in the morning, in low light conditions, or when there’s fog, it helps you see well. Even in bright sun, it’s very visible. Many anglers think Sunrise Silver is the kryptonite of lenses because it’s good in every condition, but it shines in low light.
It makes things pop, bringing out the greens and showing a lot of contrast on the bottom. It’s one of my top choices for sure, and you can see from the video that it really brightens things up. If you need a good low light lens, Sunrise Silver is one you have to have in your arsenal.
The Personal Nature of Lens and Frame Choices
Over the years, I have fished with many great anglers. One thing I know now is that everybody sees things differently. Everybody sees color differently, and everyone’s face shape is a little different. The perfect lens color and frame for me are probably not going to be the perfect one for you. That’s why we have all these choices, and we wanted to show you what they look like so you can make an educated decision.
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