SunglaS
elite series
Photo by B.A.S.S./James Overstreet
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why one pair isn’t enough
unglasses are an integral part of bass fish- ing. They are the tools that allow us to see underneath the water, locate structure and find bass roaming beneath. There are countless brands on the market and even more shapes, lens colors and lens types being sold. it can be a confusing process choosing the right pair for the right situation. to help make the process easier, i talked with Bassmaster elite Series pro ott deFoe to get his insight on what makes a good lens, which color lens is best, and why. as a full time professional bass angler, he spends more hours than most of the water and he has learned through trial and error what works best.
polycarbonate lens with the same quality as the best glass lenses they produce. The 580 lens technology blocks yellow light, which is the harshest light for your eye to filter. The 580 comes from the size 580 nanometers. This type of lens material offers the best clarity you can buy. i have used both and prefer the 580P due to the fact that it is much more lightweight, ott deFoe on the other hand prefers the glass version. “When people ask me about the glass or polycarbonate, i always tell them it really depends on your eyes. Some eyes will do better with one or the other, it really just depends, i would recommend to try them both on and see what feels better to you,” shared deFoe. ott deFoe had great things to say about all of the different Costa lenses and was quick to add “i have used Costa forever, long before i was sponsored by them. When i started bass fishing seriously, i asked everyone i knew who was a good sight fisherman and they all used Costas,” says deFoe.
an often overlooked factor in choosing the right pair of sunglasses is the selection of the right frame. Besides trying to look your best, the frame of the sunglasses makes a big difference in the ability to block light penetration as well as to fit your face properly. “Find what frame works best for your face first,” shed the tenn. pro. “Then you can start to choose the right lens type and color. Having the right frame is vital in the process of selecting the right pair of sunglasses.”
FRAMES
another popular topic among bass anglers is the type of lens material. Glass or polycarbonate are the two different materials being used today; glass has a reputation of being superior. Costa released what is called the 580P in recent years. This lens type is a
LENS MATERIAL
like having more than one fishing rod, sunglasses can be better utilized when you have the right one for the right situation. ott deFoe and other pro bass fisherman agree that one pair will not cover all situations. Most companies have numerous lens colors, but deFoe believes he can narrow it down to three choices to fit each and every situation he will encounter on the tournament trail. “The three i use are the sunrise, gray and green mirror. Those three will work during all light conditions, times of day and all year long,” said deFoe.
LENS COLORS
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