Best Polarized Sunglasses for Female Anglers

Since I started fishing 18 years ago, I've had lots of polarized sunglasses, but always chose them with an eye on fashion versus function. Lately, though, I've realized that when it comes to performance there's "more than meets the eye." For example, I had no idea that different colored lenses would benefit me in different conditions. There is so much left to learn and I have access to many of the world’s best fishermen and fisherwomen. With that in mind, I decided to ask a panel of accomplished female anglers which shades they wear and why. Here are the results:

Angie Scott

Founder of The Woman Angler & Adventurer Podcast

Mission: To inspire, empower and connect women anglers and outdoor adventure seekers worldwide.

HPFC: What does your favorite brand of sunglasses do particularly well?

Angie Scott: The Costa Del Mar lenses stay intact (coating does not crack), they have great visibility in various light/water conditions, and special features specifically designed for hardcore anglers.

HPFC: What were your past glasses lacking for you?

Angie Scott: High price point and would only last a couple seasons, no anti-fogging features.

HPFC: Describe your head shape

Angie Scott: Oval, medium/regular-sized

HPFC: What went into choosing the particular frames you wear?

Angie Scott: Comfort and functionality of the Costa Pro Series.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses for inshore, offshore, freshwater, cloudy or sunny conditions? If so, what is different about them for each of the different conditions?

Angie Scott: Same brand but different frames/lens colors based on the conditions. I prefer glass lenses for extra clarity. Grey is my go-to for everyday bright light conditions, blue mirror for open ocean and offshore fishing, green for inshore and sight fishing, and sunrise silver for low-light conditions.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Angie Scott: Adjustable nose piece to prevent fogging, sweat channel down the arms, reinforced metal grommets for straps. Also, the Untangled Collection glasses are made from recycled fishing nets and are very lightweight.

HPFC: Can you provide examples of when having the right sunglasses made a difference in your fishing success.

Angie Scott: It is absolutely key for sight fishing or just being able to see how my lure is moving in the water.

HPFC: Do they offer any safety features?

Angie Scott: Definitely, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses all the time when on a boat to protect your eyes from insects or flying hooks, weights, etc.

HPFC: Do you wear a prescription and are they available for a Rx?

Angie Scott: I do not, but if I did yes, they are available for a Rx.

HPFC: Do you use a strap to keep them on, if so, which one do you prefer?

Angie Scott: I don’t. So far I haven’t had any issues with them falling off.

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses?

Angie Scott: Costa has a great size finder built into their website based on your head size.

One other reason that I wears Costas is the support of female anglers with the Compete + Conserve contingency payout for the Lady Bass Angler’s Association Women’s Pro Bass Tour. They have waived the 50-boat minimum requirement to support us.

Astrid DeGruchy

Professional baseball scout

Favorite Thing: “Being out on the water and executing a game plan.”

HPFC: What does your favorite brand of sunglasses do particularly well?

Astrid DeGruchy: Kaenon sunglasses have a special patent-protected polarized lens that really help you see out on the water more clearly. They’re designed in California and made in Italy. They are shatterproof and just have an advanced polarized feel.

HPFC: Describe your head shape?

Astrid DeGruchy: I have a medium to full face size, nothing overly prominent.

HPFC: What went into choosing the particular frames you wear?

Astrid DeGruchy: I like the aviator look on me best and I almost always wear the Clarke Polarized Kaenon Sunglasses.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses for inshore, offshore, freshwater, cloudy or sunny conditions?

Astrid DeGruchy: Out on the water, if it is cloudy, I prefer a copper tint but the Kaenon polarized lenses do a good job at every condition with their advanced technology.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Astrid DeGruchy: The best part is that these are not only super polarized but they are lightweight, shatterproof and very strong. Also, the Kaenon SR-91 lenses have a lifetime warranty!

HPFC: Can you provide some examples of when having the right sunglasses made a difference in your fishing success.

Astrid DeGruchy: Whenever we’ve gone sight casting, it is extremely important to be able to see what you are looking for and Kaenon sunglasses help with that. My fiancé loves the Burnet FC Polarized sunglasses because they also block out any unwanted light. I know professional athletes wear Kaenon too for that same reason.

HPFC: Do you wear a prescription and are they available for a Rx?

Astrid DeGruchy: I don’t wear Rx but they do have that feature for those that need it.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just the look?

Astrid DeGruchy: Kaenon sunglasses have a modern look and they look great on a lot of people.

HPFC: Do you use a strap to keep them on, if so, which one do you prefer?

Astrid DeGruchy: I don’t use straps to keep them on.

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses?

Astrid DeGruchy: I would suggest you look at photos of other people similar to see what it might look like on your frame.

Kristen Salazar

Owner, Casa Vieja Lodge

Competitive Tournament Angler, Former Collegiate Athlete, Mother of Four

HPFC: What does your favorite brand of sunglasses do particularly well?

Kristen Salazar: My Costas allow me to see different depths into the water I’m fishing in.

HPFC: What were your past glasses lacking for you?

Kristen Salazar: Fifteen years ago, prior to Costas, I used a lot of surfing brands, primarily for the polarization but this alone didn’t let me see the fish. When my husband, Captain David Salazar, let me use his sunglasses, I finally realized the difference and converted back then.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses for inshore, offshore, freshwater, cloudy or sunny conditions?

Kristen Salazar: I wear different color lenses for inshore, offshore, or cloudy or sunny days, and non-fishing days. While I’m fishing, I carry all of them with me and change according to the conditions. Conditions can change several times throughout the day. I’m still getting the hang of it but as soon as I find the right lens match for the condition, I can catch the fish.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Kristen Salazar: At Casa Vieja, we have five different color lenses aboard the boat, so while you are out fishing, you can try on the different colors throughout the day to truly see the difference. This is much better than trying them on in a LED lit shop!

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses?

Kristen Salazar: My advice, for high light conditions are to use lenses that conform to your face so no light can enter through the sides. Your eyes get that movie theater dark focus on the fish. Also, no white or bright frames, as these reflect the bright light back into your eyes.

HPFC: Anything else that people should know?

Kristen Salazar: I love Costa sunglasses and I love their Kick Plastic initiatives that have inspired not only Casa Vieja Lodge to eliminate single-use plastic bottles but a large amount of domestic and international outfitters as well.

Mandy Uhrich

Pro Angler and Hunting Guide

Twenty one year veteran biologist, tournament angler and fishing guide.

HPFC: What does your favorite brand of sunglasses do particularly well?

Mandy Uhrich: My Costas are exceptionally well fitting and lightweight – to the point of forgetting they are even on. Also, exceptionally durable, both frames and lenses with multiple lens options and an incredible warranty.

HPFC: What were your past glasses lacking for you?

Mandy Uhrich: Limited options for “woman frames” that fit properly and did NOT offer the same lens options as the men’s line.

HPFC: Describe your head shape.

Mandy Uhrich: Small melon 😊 square shaped face.

HPFC: What went into choosing the particular frames you wear?

Mandy Uhrich: Hands down the fit, with having a small head that is too big for “kids frames” but yet too small for “adult frames.” My sunglasses are on for at least 8 hours a day year-round both open water and on the ice.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses for different conditions?

Mandy Uhrich:  Absolutely not!! In sunny inshore conditions, I wear green lenses. In cloudy inshore conditions, silver or amber/copper lenses and offshore conditions blue lenses. For sunny and ice fishing blue lenses are the best. The glare off of snow and ice is way more intense than it is off the water!

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Mandy Uhrich: Each color or type of lens may work for one person but not another. Also, different color lens and types of lenses such as glass versus plastic. Glass is heavier and less impact-resistant than high-quality plastic polarized lenses.

HPFC: Can you provide examples of when having the right sunglasses made a difference in your fishing success.

Mandy Uhrich: Sight fishing smallmouth bass cruising sand lines. These fish are already camouflaged, but in low light situations they are almost impossible to see with the “naked eye.” Having the proper lenses hands down gives me the advantage to be able to pick those fish out.

HPFC: Anything else you want to point out?

Mandy Uhrich: 100% of the time. Proper polarized sunglasses not only enhance your vision on the water, but they also protect your eyes in multiple ways. They not only provide UV protection but act as an actual physical barrier from airborne debris, dust to bugs and drying winds. (Trust me you don’t want to get a bug in the eye while drive 70 mph across the lake!)

HPFC: Do you wear a prescription and are they available for a Rx?

Mandy Uhrich: They are available, thankfully, as I need and have them.

HPFC: Do you use a strap to keep them on, if so, which one do you prefer?

Mandy Uhrich: The brand doesn’t matter, they just need to FLOAT! 😊

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses?

Mandy Uhrich: Do your homework there are MULTIPLE types and colors of lenses available. Get an idea of your needs and then get out to the store and try them on. It is important to not only find the right lens for you but also to try multiple types of frames to find the right fit for your individual face and head shape.

Melinda Mize

Former WBT competitor, daughter of two legendary Arkansas professional anglers, and mother of two spitfire little girls, fishing since she was 2 years old.

Melinda is also a top performing real estate agent, tournament director for three trails and marketing consultant for Bajio sunglasses (perhaps she is sleeping behind those glasses because I don’t know how or when she has time to sleep).

HPFC: What does your favorite brand of sunglasses do particularly well?

Melinda Mize: I think it’s everything as a whole. Bajios are made for anglers by anglers which allows for key lens choices and fits on frames. They believe in giving back to make our waterways better and they focus on the consumer. The technology really sets Bajio apart from other brands and the clarity when you put them on really speaks for itself.

HPFC: What were your past glasses lacking for you?

Melinda Mize: Customer service. I love knowing that if there’s an issue my investment is taken care of. Great sunglasses aren’t cheap.

HPFC: What went into choosing the particular frames you wear?

Melinda Mize: I wear several. I have my everyday, my sight fishing and my “brighten my mood on the water with gorgeous color” frames. Bajio frames don’t make females sacrifice femininity to still get all of the amazing features that set us apart on the water that frames featured toward men would have.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses for different conditions?

Melinda Mize: My sunglasses are one of my most key tools on the water. I definitely change it up. Different lenses are the key to get the most out of your experience on the water. I wear rose lenses for all days except pure overcast rainy days, early morning, fog or if I’m strictly sight fishing and then I wear violet.

Rose is the best all-around lens I’ve ever worn. You’re able to use the lenses to help identify key structure and even fish. Violet is a dominant low light lens. I call them my happy glasses because no matter how dreary of a day it immediately makes me feel like it brings the light back to it.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Melinda Mize: The amount of blue light and harmful rays Bajio sunglasses block set them apart from the competition. You will notice these key features subconsciously throughout the day because of less eye strain, haze and more clarity.

HPFC: Can you provide examples of when having the right sunglasses made a difference in your fishing success.

Melinda Mize: Every single day I’m on the water my glasses make a difference. You may think in muddy water you might not reap many benefits but it’s amazing how the lens will help you identify structure even in muddy water by it looking like a shadow in the water. This can help you target specific areas or help you make the most of every cast by not getting hung up. I noticed I am able to identify structure and fish compared to my partners on the majority of occasions.

HPFC: Do they provide protection on the water?

Melinda Mize: Bajio plastic lenses are a huge safety asset when flipping big weights all the way to drop shot weights. It’s not just about protecting your eyes running down the lake but also about impact from something flying back at you. Another key safety feature is the blue light blocking technology and the UV protection. Your eye health is extremely important and wearing sunglasses with the protection like Bajios are the best way to keep your eyes healthy longer.

HPFC: Do you wear a prescription and are they available for a Rx?

Melinda Mize: I had Lasik surgery 2 years ago so I don’t wear Rx any longer but all Bajio frames are available in Rx.

HPFC: Do you use a strap to keep them on. If so, which one do you prefer?

Melinda Mize: I don’t use a strap. I like to be able to put them on top of my head. It’s just how I’m comfortable. You’ll rarely see me without them.

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses?

Melinda Mize: I highly recommend trying them on. Fit is so important because bad fit can cause headaches and keep you from getting the most out of your lenses.

Cher (Coen) Karbassian

“Just a girl who has loved fishing since being a child.”

Kayak Angler

HPFC: What does your favorite brand of sunglasses do particularly well?

Cher Karbassian: WaterLand Sunglasses have a premium blend of lenses that are focused around the angler. The Ladi Series are lightweight, comfortable and extremely fashionable.

HPFC: What were your past glasses lacking for you? 

Cher Karbassian: Durability and comfort.
HPFC: Describe your head shape and what went into choosing the particular frames you wear?

Cher Karbassian: My head shape is probably closest to the diamond shape.

I have wider cheekbones and I’m narrower in the forehead and chin. I’ve always gone with what I feel looks best on me.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses for different conditions?

Cher Karbassian: I feel like the WaterLand sunglasses are great for any conditions. In my opinion, the lenses are such high quality, giving protection for your eyes from the sun and the reflection of the water while having the HueVue polarized lenses for a clearer view of the water.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Cher Karbassian: An important feature of the glasses is definitely the HueVue technology that is designed to protect your eyes in all conditions and to have that super clear view.

HPFC: Can you provide examples of when having the right sunglasses made a difference in your fishing success?

Cher Karbassian: An example that has helped me in my fishing success is definitely sight fishing. The ability to see fish so clear at a distance is a huge plus.

HPFC: How do you protect your glasses? 

Cher Karbassian: Each pair of sunglasses comes with a case and a waterproof bag to store your eyewear which can be clipped to your kayak seat if needed to store for safety and protection.

HPFC: Do you wear a prescription and are they available for a Rx?

Cher Karbassian: All sunglasses by WaterLand can be set up with a prescription, if needed. 

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just the look?

Cher Karbassian: The Ladi Series sunglasses are very impressive. The advantage of these sunglasses is wearing them and feeling like a Rockstar!

HPFC: Do you use a strap to keep them on, if so, which one do you prefer?

Cher Karbassian: I do not use anything to keep my sunglasses strapped but definitely think about it. I might have to check into that soon.

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses?

Cher Karbassian: If you’re needing advice on the proper fit, check out the website and there is a size chart available at the bottom of the Ladi Series page with all of the info needed to help get that perfect fit. Please Use code CHER15 for a discount when you’re ready to order.

Hannah Wesley

Bassmaster High School All-American and Campbellsville University angler

Represented Team USA in the Pan American Championship in 2019 and won in 2022.

HPFC: What does your brand sunglasses do particularly well?

Hannah Wesley: Wiley X sunglasses protect my eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays while fishing, hunting or doing anything outdoors. Being a Type 1 Diabetic, protecting my eyesight is very important to me, and Wiley X does just that and so much more.

HPFC: What were your past glasses lacking for you?

Hannah Wesley: Previous glasses lacked having different lens colors for different conditions. Also having the ability to be able to see better underwater. This plays a big part to me because I can see where fish are bedding or swimming in shallow water, which benefits me in tournaments or on fun fishing days.

HPFC: Describe your head shape

Hannah Wesley: I think the Ovation lens fits my face best because my face is pretty normal. They’re not oversized and fit my face perfectly. They are a very flattering fit.

HPFC: What went into choosing the particular frames you wear?

Hannah Wesley: I chose the lenses I have because the blue lens is great for sunny days on and off the water by helping protect my eyes from the sun's UV rays. The rose gold lens is great for sunny and overcast days. Both lenses are very beneficial being on and off the water, or just my everyday life.

HPFC: Do you wear the same glasses different conditions?

Hannah Wesley: I wear both. On sunny days I tend to wear my blue lenses but having the rose gold where I can wear in either sunny or cloudy is helpful too. On cloudy days I wear my rose gold lenses so they can help me see better and fish more efficiently. The blue lens has a dark grey tint into the blue to give your eyes a more protected view from the sun. The rose gold lenses have a green tint in the rose gold to give more of a “natural” look on those cloudy days.

HPFC: What are some of the other features or advantages of the glasses that people may not notice from just looking at them?

Hannah Wesley: One advantage of Wiley X glasses is that they are shatterproof. A very durable and high-quality glass lens is very important whether someone is fishing or doing construction work.

HPFC: Can you provide examples of when having the right sunglasses made a difference in your fishing success.

Hannah Wesley: Wearing Wiley X lenses helped me place well in a tournament by catching big spawning fish in shallow water. Being able to see a little more in depth of the water plays a huge role in a fisherman’s success, especially in the springtime when bass are spawning up shallow.

HPFC: How does safety factor into your choice of glasses on the water?

Hannah Wesley: Wearing my Wiley X glasses every tournament gives my eyes 100% protection at all times. Whether it is from the sun’s harmful UV rays or a bait accidentally hitting me in the face, they always are protecting my eyes and that is something I am very grateful to have.

HPFC: Do you wear a prescription and are they available for a Rx?

Hannah Wesley: I do wear a prescription but not in Wiley X glasses because I usually fish in my contacts.

HPFC: Do you use a strap to keep them on? If so, which one do you prefer?

Hannah Wesley: I do not use a strap because I am constantly wearing them while I fish. When I do take them off, I stick them on top of my hat or back in my case. Straps are very handy though so you always have them on you and you won’t lose them!

HPFC: What advice would you give women to find the proper fit for glasses.

Hannah Wesley: To all women who need a high-quality sunglass lens, consider Wiley X. They have so many options to choose from whether it’s for fishing, hunting, construction work, military, shooting and so much more. If you’re outdoors hunting and fishing a lot like me, I recommend the Ovation lens in blue or rose gold. They’re a very flattering fit and I wear them literally every day. As a Type 1 Diabetic, I highly recommend Wiley X’s lenses. Eyesight plays a big role in diabetes and taking care of mine is one of my biggest priorities. With Wiley X lenses, I can enjoy my outdoor activities and everyday life and not be worried my vision is being harmed because they are being protected the whole time I wear my glasses.