I'm constantly reading about how you must have polarised glasses for fly fishing to cut down the glare on the water.

Now I have a pair of quite expensive sunglasses which are polarised and whenever I've put them on while fishing have to say that I don't see a sudden dramatic improvement.
Are glasses designed specifically for fishing different?
Should you be able to see into the water clearly?

My Dad has a pair of £30 fishing glasses and I find the same thing with those.
Depending on the type of light, I can maybe notice a slight difference but I definitely can't see well enough to see fish moving about.
If anything at times I think i can see in to the water better without them!

Am I missing something?

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In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

In short, yes they work.

You need different coloured lenses for different light levels though and no glasses are going to let you see into water that is not clear.

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http://eclecticangler.blogspot.com/

So hypothetically you need numerous different sets of glasses or lenses for different types of light?

Or is there a colour of lens that covers most situations?
Also, does price make a big difference?

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In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

if you are, i am too!!!! i rember my old man having a crackin pair years ago and i remember as a kid looking into the fall pool on the Balgy and seeing clearly the salmon stacked up and thinking this was a revelation. Iv never had a pair as good and with the passing o time, i cant remember what make they were ( my dad dont remember owning a pair full stop) but then iv never spent a lot of money on a pair, probably find out you get what you pay for, interestin thread

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i was walking far from home, where the names are not burned along the wall, saw a building, high as heaven, but the door was so small

they are the third most important piece of equipment in my arsenal. they work dramatically. Check your glasses ARE polarised by putting then lens to lens with your father's. then turn one pair 90 degrees to the other and you should see the lens go black if they are polarised.

Without sounding daft, remember they only work in clear water.! Polaroid glasses will not completely remove all glare from the water but they will dramatically cut it down so that you can see a fish that you wouldnt see without them.

I still have a pair of old Shakespeare glasses which cost me about £8 some 15 - 20 years ago. I don't use them!! Why? Because they have large lenses like Dennis Taylor glasses.

I use Bolle Glasses, which are good, but not brilliant. All they do is allow me to see into the water, through the surface glare.

As to which ones are very good. Iv'e heard Maui Jim have a good rep, but so do Flying fisherman. I think it boils down, to trying them out before buying.

Best Regards

Stuart

Price has very little to do with it. some of the best polaroids ive had have been sub 30 quid. different lenses help, but get yourself a pair of greys and you'll be well covered for most circumstances. second pair should be amber for dark days.

I'll second that......the ambers are great for low light conditions. I pay very little for mine since I am a clumsy sod and invariably sit on /tread on/ drop in river/scratch/lose mine...............birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

Sorry to be a dumb **** but do you mean grey as in the colour of the lens, or Greys as in the manufacturer?!

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In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

I too only notice a marginal difference. Mine are reasonably cheap and are definately polarised. I mainly wear them as eye protection.