I got into a situation last night that started me thinking about this. Very cloudy prior to sunset. Skys clearing at sunset and I’m fishing with no eye protection when I can’t see the fly! I normally use amber lenses and it was just too dark!
I don’t like the idea of carrying multiple glasses for different conditions (but will if I have too). I also cannot sell my soul to the devil to cover the cost as I’ve already done that for other gear!!
Any suggestions/advise?
Jack, are you saying you want the glasses for eye protection?..if so I recommend clear lenses…polycarbonate…check out the shooting sections …they don’t have to cost much.
Jack; Nothing I hate, MORE usually, than the “As seen on TV” merchandise. But, wouldn’t ya’ know it… when fishing with a “As seen on TV addict”, (I think he carries a Ron Popeil veggie slicer in his vest, just for lunch time), he pulls out a pair of these “Blue Blockers”, sunglasses. (assssssssss seen on TV, of course!).
I watched him a while, (this was about a half hour, before complete darkness and raining), and he could tie on #20s, watch his fly as if it were high noon, etc.!???
So, I came up with some lame excuse to borrow them from him and, well… I now own, 3 pair. One for driving, (clip ons, as I wear prescription glasses too), a pair in my 'Toon and one pair in my vest. All, clip ons. Of course, they make “regular”, for those that don’t need the clip ons.
I’ve seen the ads, on TV, for these and supposedly they "block out certain blue and red rays of light, (that are about what polarized glasses do), but do it, with a fairly light tinted amber lens. They are NOT POLARIZED, so they’re no good for seeing into the water, but across the water, watching a fly, and.or, indicator, etc. I was really amazed at how they worked!?!
I’ve even worn them at night, against bright headlights,without any real “loss of safe vision, wearing sunglasses at night”, type of problem.
I paid $7.95 ea, for my clip ons. I think, the regular style sunglasses are like $12.95.
Might work!?
For about the last 5 or 6 years I’ve been wearing a pair of amber colored, polarized sunglasses that I bought from Cabelas for about $50. They are glass lenses so they do not scratch if tossed in your pocket. It’s got to be pretty darn dark for me to not be able to see with them, as they “enhance” available light during times of low light. I checked their website and looked at the 188 pairs of sunglasses they have for sale, but the style is no longer there (Duh!).
From what I understand, the amber color is ideal for what you are looking for.
Joe
The shooting or yellow tint glasses are good suggestions. Many of the makers that target anglers offer yellow polarized lenses. I have a pair that I use for fishing in the fog.
I have photochromatic copper polarized lense glasses from Action Optics and photo chromatic copper/rose that have worked quite well for me in low light conditions. Other manufacturers have similar lenses.
Action Optics also has a wide range of lowlight and photochromatic (light adjusting) lenses, some of which block as little as 2% of the light. They have a photo brown lense that transmits 15-40% which is great for med to low light conditions.
i bought a pair of optical quality non-prescription polaized sunglasses from COSTCO for the price of their frame plus 2 cents…yes, I was charged 1 penny each for the lense. how can yo go wrong?
Paul (the confused, but by no means a Saint;))
They now make the Blue Blockers in Polorized! 
I will order a pair, Pair? Why is it a pair of eyeglasses? I mean can I buy just one? 
Would that only cover one eye?
Anyway, thanks for the help I’ll let you know how they work should they ever let me out.
“I will order a pair, Pair? Why is it a pair of eyeglasses? I mean can I buy just one? Would that only cover one eye? ”
Well, jack, your above question is of course “age old”. Along the same lines as “A PAIR of pants”. Or, worse…“Why is “bra” singular and yet “panties” is PLURAL?”
I, of course, have NO idea. I’d ask Doug, but I don’t need, and/or, want a migraine.
As for the glasses… I didn’t know, they now came polarized, which will make them ever better! I hope they work for you, as well as they have for me, in low light conditions. (And, in both night time and day time driving in fog!)
Jack, did you see the yellow lenses that I was wearing last Thursday evening? They block UV A and B. They are safety glasses that I picked up at Lowe’s for $15, so they should protect my eyes from stray flies. They also make it easier to see in the twilight, up to a point.
Ed
Thanks Ed, I’ll make a trip to Lowe’s today.
I can do the same at my office:
Pay me $50 for the frame plus 50 for each lens or
Pay me $199.98 for the frame and 2 cents for the lenses. If they are “selling” you the lenses for 2 cents, common sense tells you they over-charged you for the frame.
It’s a way to sell you the lenses by you buying the frame. Keeps you from going elsewhere to get lenses.
Blu Blockers can be ordered polarized: The wrap-around are nice
https://store.blublocker.com/catalog/polarized/?CartID=0064603F-7233E42B
While I agree that many necessary items in the sport are extremely expensive as we all know, sunglasses/eye protection isn’t a chance to save a couple of bucks- spend the money and get your self a pair of Smith/action optics - the photochromatic glass are great, cover all hours of the day and you can’t beat the clarity. Factor in how many hours you will spend on the water searching intensely and the damage a bad lens can do to your eyesight/hangover and the price will become something of a distant memory. Just be dogmatic on the use of the croakies obviously.
Recently I have been trying and on occasion succeeding going after big browns at night on the Au Sable. I found that racquetball glasses are by far the best fit for low light or night fishing. They are much more comfortable than shooting glasses after hours of casting, more flush to the face which keeps the bugs at bay (at least a little) and hold tighter to the face. Any sporting goods store should have you covered and shouldn?t run you more than 25 bucks at the most. Beats the drama of getting a streamer in the eye at 2am.