Quality sunglasses helped Sid Brown to catch this smallmouth bass.

While good sunglasses will set you back more than the typical $20 models you can find in popular mail-order houses, quality eyewear offers a much higher degree of protection and utility.

The first step in choosing good fishing eyewear is to be sure they are polarized to cut through the glare that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to see beneath the surface.Polarized sunglasses employ a built-in filter that eliminates much of the glare. Differences exist in the quality of the polarizing filter. Better sunglasses utilize a higher grade polarizing film, making them much more effective.Polarized lenses not only rid your view of glare, they also add contrast to what's being seen. Certain colors become more vivid. These qualities greatly assist the muskie angler in distinguishing features and objects located below the surface.

Lenses are available in a variety of colors, each of which performs best under certain conditions. Companies, such as Solar Bat and Smith Action Optics, offer a variety of lens colors to match the circumstances of the day."You have to have lens tints that work for the conditions," said Smith Action Optics general manager Peter Crow. "Not every lens tint is going to be right for every condition. Are they going to work? To some degree. But certain color lenses work best in certain conditions.""A gray lens is a neutral density lens," said Gary Nesty, optometrist and owner of Solar Bat. "It filters all colors equally. If you want red to still look red, brown to still look like brown and green to still look green, then a gray lens is the best choice."When you start to get into lens colors, other than gray, you are looking at selective filtration. If you are looking for green weeds, for instance, or a fish that has a lot of green on it, if you wear a green lens it will make those green objects more visible to you."If you are in a low light condition where you need some brightness, or you are in clear water with a very dark bottom, then a yellow polarized lens like a high contrast yellow will help because you will have additional brightness to help you see the objects you want to see," Nesty added.

High-quality fishing optics are available in both optical glass and polycarbonate. Each has its strong points."Glass has the highest optical value," said Crow, whose company makes both glass and polycarbonate lenses. "It is very clear. There is very good stability of the polarized filter that we put between the lens. You can use extremely good polarizing film in glass lenses."Crow also noted that glass tends to be a bit heavier than polycarbonate, though Smith Action Optics uses a thin glass lens that is tapered, which addresses the weight issue. Glass is also very scratch resistant."The one downside of glass is that it is less impact resistant than polycarbonate," added Crow.Advantages of polycarbonate include lighter weight, higher impact resistance and a somewhat lower price point than glass.

Frame construction and size is a matter of both form and function, with most muskie anglers likely leaning toward function. The fatigue factor is associated with more than just eyestrain. Long hours on the water become longer when glasses don't fit properly. Headaches can result from frames that pinch.While some frames have a degree of adjustability built into them, Crow said the most important factor is that an angler buys frames that fit well initially.Components of frame size include measurements of the lens, bridge and temple. Comparing these variations by way of a catalog or website can narrow the search for good-fitting glasses. Of course, the best way it to visit a tackle store to try on several models and frame styles.Additional information on Solar Bat and Smith Action Optics can be obtained by visiting the websites: www.solarbat.com and www.actionoptics.com, respectively.