Sunglasses & Glasses

The 5 Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses [& Buyer’s Guide]

If you’ve been fly fishing, you’ll know how bad the glare created by light bouncing off the water can be. And not only does it hurt your eyes, but the harmful UV rays can also damage them too! That’s why we never head out for a day of fishing without a pair of sunglasses.

But there’s no reason to let light conditions spoil your day on the water. The best fishing sunglasses offer protective lens technology to filter out glare, increase visibility, and help you spot the biggest fish in the best spots!

Read on to learn how to choose the best sunglasses for your next fly fishing trip. Plus, we’re sharing the top choices for your next pair of fishing shades.

Fly Fishing

What Should You Look for in Fly Fishing Sunglasses?

Frame Material

When choosing a frame for fly fishing sunglasses, the most important thing to consider is comfort. After all, you’re probably going to be wearing them all day.

And to maximize comfort, you’ll want the best frame material. We recommend looking for a lightweight frame that fits your face well. Materials like Oakley O Matter, Costa Del Mar’s TR-90 nylon, or Smith Optics’ injected polymer are all super light choices that work great for all-day wear.

You’ll also want to pay close attention to the durability of the frame material you choose. A metal frame might be lightweight and look great but may lack the strength and longevity of the other materials. We like lightweight plastic and nylon materials that are durable, comfortable, and can be easily cleaned to avoid damage from saltwater, sweat, or other chemicals.

Lens Colors

Fly fishing lenses serve two main purposes: to cut glare and to increase contrast so you can see the fish. With this in mind, the best fly fishing lens colors are blue, green, amber, and rose.

Why so many choices? Because fly fishing can be done in different weather and light conditions.

A blue lens cuts glare on the open water, while a green lens is better for mixed light conditions. In contrast, amber, rose, and even yellow lenses are great for low light conditions, including dusk and dawn.

When you’re buying a pair of fly fishing sunglasses, keep your usual fishing spots in mind. We’d recommend choosing a lens color that works with the light you’re in most often. And if you fly fish in two distinct areas, you may want more than a single pair of sunglasses or lenses. For example, fly fishing in a creek at dawn is very different from casting into the open ocean at noon.  

If we had to choose a single lens color for a variety of conditions, our choice would be green. It’s the most versatile and works well in various light conditions.

For more information, check out our guide to the Best Fishing Lens Colors.

Best Fly Fishing Lens Colors

Salt Water vs. Fresh Water Sight Fishing – Does it Matter?

Do you imagine that all fly fishing is done while standing in a river in dappled sunlight, casting for trout? That’s how it’s usually portrayed. But you can fly fish in all sorts of places, including open saltwater.

Luckily, saltwater or freshwater conditions don’t matter when choosing sunglasses, but the conditions do. And saltwater light conditions are very different from freshwater conditions.

For example, if you’re fishing for bonefish or tarpon in saltwater flats, we’d recommend trying green mirror lenses since they cut glare and help with shallow ocean contrast. But if you’re out in the open deep water, we’d recommend a blue mirror lens since they’ll reduce glare and give you a better glimpse of sport fish at the surface.

The best fishing sunglasses for you do not depend on whether the water is salt or fresh. Instead, make your choice based on the conditions where you’re fishing.   

The Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses

5. Maui Jim Barrier Reef

Maui Jim Barrier Reef Fishing Glasses

Maui Jim’s Barrier Reef (Product Link) offers a large base curve wrap and wide temple arms for excellent peripheral coverage and protection. Plus, their rectangular lenses look sporty and look great on most faces.

And, with Maui Jim sunglasses, you have the option of both polycarbonate and glass lenses, depending on the lens color you choose.

For the Barrier Reef, Maui Jim offers several great fly fishing lens colors, including their Blue Hawaii Mirror lens (made of SuperThin glass), green Maui HT, and Maui Rose (both of which are available in the company’s light polycarbonate MauiBrilliant lens material).

Barrier Reef Highlights

  • Available in a total of eight polarized lens colors, including blue, green, and rose, for fly fishing
  • Available with readers up to 2.5 magnification and prescription lenses
  • Embedded rubber nose pads keep glasses from slipping even when sweaty or wet

4. Maui Jim Southern Cross

Maui Jim Southern Cross Shallow Water Fishing Sunglasses

The Southern Cross (Product Link) is another big, base 8 wrap frame from Maui Jim. And this frame is constructed with the company’s triple-injected nylon for lightweight comfort. The deep 44 mm lenses and wide temple arms also provide extra sun protection thanks to maximum coverage. Given its size, the Southern Cross is made for larger heads and faces.

Maui Jim Southern Cross sunglasses come in four excellent fly fishing colors that cover you in every environment. The blue Hawaii and MAUIGreen lenses are made of the company’s SuperThin glass, while green Maui HT and Maui Rose lenses are made of their polycarbonate MauiBrilliant lens material.

Southern Cross Highlights

  • Available in three frame colors and a total of eight polarized lens colors
  • Embedded nose pads provide increased comfort and reduce slipping
  • Available with prescription lenses and readers between 1.5 and 2.5 magnification

3. Costa Del Mar Fantail

Costa Fan Tail Sunglasses

Costa Del Mar Fantail sunglasses (Product Link) are a smaller, medium-fit version of the company’s Blackfin style. Featuring the same rectangular style as the Blackfin, the Fantail provides plenty of coverage and is made of durable bio-resin material.

Similar to Maui Jim, Costa Del Mar offers both glass and polycarbonate polarized lenses. Plus, their 580g (glass) and 580p (polycarbonate) lens are available in blue and green with mirror coatings that work great for fishing.

Fantail Highlights

  • Costa Del Mar 580 lenses filter yellow and enhance red, green, and blue for fishing
  • Lenses are specifically designed for fishing and offer UVA and UVB protection
  • Available with polycarbonate and glass prescription lens options

2. Smith Guide’s Choice

Smith Guide's Choice Sunglasses with Blue Lenses

Smith Optics brings us the Guide’s Choice (Product Link) with deep 42 mm rectangular lenses that provide maximum coverage. Plus, the injected polymer frame has wide temple arms for extra peripheral sun protection and is lightweight for all-day wear.

Guides Choice sunglasses feature a simple design that is functional and sturdy, meaning they can stand up to all-day fishing sessions. And this frame includes Smith Optics’ Chromapop lens technology. These lenses help your eyes distinguish between colors, specifically blue and green and red and green. This results in better definition and enhanced contrast and clarity.

Today, Smith offers three polarized lens options for the Guide’s Choice: Techlite glass, ChromaPop Glass, and ChromaPop+. And while glass lenses are very scratch-resistant, we prefer the ChromaPop+ lenses that are made of lightweight polycarbonate material. Finally, all Smith lenses offer full UV protection.

You can get blue, or green mirrored ChromaPop Glass or ChromaPop+ lenses in your Guide’s Choice sunglasses. If you’re angling in low light, you can choose yellow or rose lenses in all three lens materials.

Guide’s Choice Highlights

  • Guide’s Choice lenses are coated to resist smudging and moisture for easy cleaning and improved clarity
  • Mergol temple pad and nose pad construction increases comfort and decreases slipping
  • Comes with a detachable integrated leash to keep your shades out of the river

1. Oakley Split Shot Sunglasses

Oakley Split Shot Fly Fishing Sunglasses

Oakley offers fly fishermen the best of all worlds with the Split Shot (Product Link), their first fishing specific frame. As always, their proprietary materials and technology are at the forefront in this high wrap, rectangular lens design.

The Split Shot features a sturdy, durable O Matter plastic frame with minimalist stylized planes. And Oakley’s Three-Point Fit combined with Unobtainium nose pads keeps the Split Shot perfectly aligned and comfortably in place even on the sweatiest fishing trip.

Oakley Split Shot sunglasses also feature HDPolarized lenses and Oakley Prizm lens technology to enhance color and contrast. We’d recommend Oakley Prizm Shallow Water (Green) or Prizm Deep Water (Blue) lenses that are specifically designed for different fishing conditions. These lenses are ideal for fly fishing in low or mixed-light shallows or full sun open water.

Read more in our complete Oakley Split Shot review.

Split Shot Highlights

  • Rectangular full-frame design that provides maximum protection from sunlight in all directions
  • Includes a detachable leash and water-resistant case with a clip
  • Available with impact-resistant Oakley Plutonite lenses and Prizm lens technology built for fishing

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Prizm Polarized Lenses Good for Fly Fishing?

Yes, Prizm polarized lenses are great for fly fishing or sight fishing because they offer excellent protection from glare and enhance contrast and color. This makes it easier to spot fish, reduces eye strain, and increases comfort for a full day on the water.

We’d recommend trying Oakley’s Shallow Water Prizm Polarized lenses for fly fishing since the green lens color and Plutonite lens material provides excellent protection, color, contrast, and clarity.

If you aren’t usually a fan of polarization, it might be time to give it a second chance. That’s because polarized lenses are the best way to cut glare, and they work great as a part of Prizm Polarized lenses, bringing you the best of both worlds.

Glass vs. Plastic Lenses – Is One Better than the Other? 

In general, we prefer high-quality lightweight polycarbonate plastic lenses over heavier glass lenses. But they both have their benefits and challenges.

Some may argue that nothing beats glass for clarity. But, for most people, the difference is not noticeable.

Glass is also more naturally scratch-resistant. But an anti-scratch coating on your polycarbonate lenses can take care of this issue. Plus, your lightweight plastic lenses won’t scratch easily from normal use in your sunglasses.

While impact resistance isn’t as crucial for fly fishing as it is for other activities, ball sports, cycling, and running are more likely to involve a random ball or debris kicked up off the road. But you can still get hit by a stray branch or someone else’s fly rod while fishing. And the danger of a shattering glass lens, even if it’s small, is not one to take lightly.

With their built-in UV protection, we like polycarbonate lenses. Your sunglasses should protect your eyes from UVA, UVB, and UVC rays to prevent damage. You only get one pair of eyes, and protecting them from impact, shattering lenses, and harmful UV rays are more important than a negligible reduction in clarity.

The Bottom Line

The perfect polarized sunglasses for your fly fishing experience might be different from those someone else chooses. At the end of the day, it’s best if you can try fishing sunglasses on before buying. We’d suggest stopping in at a local fishing shop or sporting goods store and trying out different types and styles of frames.

If you prefer to buy online, you’ll want to first understand the size of your head. To do this, easier ask your optician for measurements or use an existing pair of sunglasses. The last thing you want is a pair of sunglasses that are too tight or slide right off your face. And most companies provide dimensions for their fishing sunglasses on their websites. There are a lot of great options for the angler, so you can be picky. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t feel comfortable enough to wear all day. Your eyes will thank you, and you’ll catch more fish!

Want More?

Have a question about the best fly fishing sunglasses? Or have another pair that should be on the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Created this site because of the lack of a place for the Oakley Community to talk. Feel free to Message me any time with feedback for the site, tips o...
Costa, and Maui Jim are also big - Smith for some - but biggest fishing brand is Costa. Oakley Split Shot still gives them a run for their money though with Prizm Fishing lenses.
 
For trout, Deep and Shallow Waters, Daily and Tungsten Polarized Flak 2.0 XL for lightweight comfort and not having to deal with it slipping down and no lower frame half to block vision (happened with Valves) when bank fishing. Frameless bottom works better when frantically peeking for net handle or hemostats that may not be attached to you in the middle of a wild trout fight in places where things can suddenly go very wrong with line getting cut or fouled on lots of sharp volcanic rock all over the place, rushing water from out-take pipe and/or weeds.

For me, models without frame on top (like Radars) can let in way too much light whenever hat isn't on. Valve Emerald IP for Bass and BIP for ocean. If it's a question of only one for everything then whatever lens is best suited for light conditions to catch the big one. VR28BIP covers a lot of water and maybe Oakley would finally introduce a prizm version? Deep and Shallow Waters are favorites but would not be without 6 various lenses to cover ever changing light conditions (especially dawn and sunset) when on trout fishing vacations, aka Oakley-Aholic Anonymous meetings.
 
On the flats in the Florida Keys it's Costa Blackfin Pro. Hands down, no contest. Never thought I'd be a Costa fanboy but with that frame and the green mirror lenses, I put the Smith and the Oakleys right back in the bag and never touched them again. I only fly fish for bones on the flats so I can't speak at all on rivers or lakes or trout or bass.