Learn me on Polarized Lenses

[GarGuy]

Great lens but he needs to know colors as well Bill Dance..

Since you mentioned Bill Dance... A couple years ago, I had Bill Dance and Johnny Morris on my boat filming alligator gar shows. Everyone was wearing Bill dance glasses except me and i had on a special ordered pair of Costas called Sunrise Amber. I loved them in murky water! We fished the first day and i pointed out several big gar for them.

That night at a resturant, Johnny grabbed my glasses off my cap and asked what kind of dang exray glasses i had that let me see fish they couldnt see. Heck, i didnt know they couldnt see them! That was about 8pm. I picked them up the next morning at the hotel around 6am and all of them had Sunrise Costas on! Now we were in Crockett tx where not a single store sold Costas and the sunrise was special order anyway. Im not exactly sure where they got them but I guess the pilot could crank that jet up and get them where ever they could find them if they wanted them bad enough.

Long story to say...I agree on the Amber lenses.

[bho0351]

Since you mentioned Bill Dance... A couple years ago, I had Bill Dance and Johnny Morris on my boat filming alligator gar shows. Everyone was wearing Bill dance glasses except me and i had on a special ordered pair of Costas called Sunrise Amber. I loved them in murky water! We fished the first day and i pointed out several big gar for them.

That night at a resturant, Johnny grabbed my glasses off my cap and asked what kind of dang exray glasses i had that let me see fish they couldnt see. Heck, i didnt know they couldnt see them! That was about 8pm. I picked them up the next morning at the hotel around 6am and all of them had Sunrise Costas on! Now we were in Crockett tx where not a single store sold Costas and the sunrise was special order anyway. Im not exactly sure where they got them but I guess the pilot could crank that jet up and get them where ever they could find them if they wanted them bad enough.

Long story to say...I agree on the Amber lenses.

Now that is way cool!!!!

[BrandonA]

Since you mentioned Bill Dance... A couple years ago, I had Bill Dance and Johnny Morris on my boat filming alligator gar shows. Everyone was wearing Bill dance glasses except me and i had on a special ordered pair of Costas called Sunrise Amber. I loved them in murky water! We fished the first day and i pointed out several big gar for them.

That night at a resturant, Johnny grabbed my glasses off my cap and asked what kind of dang exray glasses i had that let me see fish they couldnt see. Heck, i didnt know they couldnt see them! That was about 8pm. I picked them up the next morning at the hotel around 6am and all of them had Sunrise Costas on! Now we were in Crockett tx where not a single store sold Costas and the sunrise was special order anyway. Im not exactly sure where they got them but I guess the pilot could crank that jet up and get them where ever they could find them if they wanted them bad enough.

Long story to say...I agree on the Amber lenses.

Thats funny. A friend of mine use to wear those cheap glasses. One day he forgot his and I let him borrow one of my pair of Costas. Still haven't gotten them back lol.

[Smart]

Thats funny. A friend of mine use to wear those cheap glasses. One day he forgot his and I let him borrow one of my pair of Costas. Still haven't gotten them back lol.

Yup.. I got mine back but he had a new pair of Costas before the next trip...

[BrandonA]

OK, serious question. the reason I never buy one of the more expensive brands is because I am afraid of scratching the lenses like i do on 100% of the ones I have owned in the past. Are the Costas and such impervious to lenses scratches?

They are pretty scratch resistant. What i found is I take better care of them than any cheap ones a owned.

[Gladesgator]

I guided both flats and offshore in the Keys for many years, have used just about every kind of polarized glasses. Started off with Foster Grants as those were the only wrap around style that you could get in amber. Have free expensive ones to try out over the years.

The rule of thumb is amber inshore and blue offshore but I have found little difference fishing everyday, have seen lots of offshore fish with amber, that the blue wearing guys missed.

I use amber for everything, I do like a more rose tint if it is an overcast day on the flats, seems to help make snook stand out better. Sunglasses have become a status symbol in the fishing community, especially the light tackle sport guys.

I use the $20-30 range polarized glasses and can see no difference in number of fish seen, depth of vision into the water, distance of view off towers, eye strain at the end of the day or anything else from the expensive brands. Well, other than the cool factor. lol
The amber color is great for driving in the rain and seeing what the storm clouds are really doing.

I would get some cheaper pairs first and see what you like. Good luck

[Barn]

The wife's eye doctor told us that using unpolarized sunglasses was a major contributing factor to her getting cataracts.

[Nailhead]

I used to use some cheapo ones from Bass Pro cause I liked the way they looked. I've had grey in the Oakley's which were decent and I have a pair of nice Rayban's in grey. They all do well for everyday, but suck for fishing. A buddy of mine handed me a pair of his Costas amber lens with tortoise frames while we were Dove hunting one day and I was impressed. I had never wore a pair of amber lens before and it was wild how it brightened everything up but yet wasn't harsh on the eyes. I picked up a used pair of Costa blue mirror 580g for a deal a while back and use them as my everyday. I could see how deep sea they would do well, I like them for driving and just being out and about. I may have to splurge on another set with some Amber lenses for bass fishing at the property.

Bottom line, can't go wrong with a pair of Costas. I haven't looked through their plastic lenses, but the glass ones give a real nice crisp picture.

[bho0351]

Thank y'all again for your input. It has been very helpful. One last question. I have seen where different lenses have a percentage of light transmission (10%, 12%, 18%). I'm guessing that is the amount of light allowed through the lense and the rest is blocked. So would you want a lower percentage or higher percentage of light in order for polarized lenses to be most effective?