Do you wear eye protection while you fish ???

[Raul]

How long have you guys been fishing? I myself have been fishing for 7 years, over half my life(im 16) and i have never had a single incident where I got hurt, or any of my buddies. There was a rare time where a me or a buddy would slip in the water but thats bout it. I've heard some stories but in the 7 years i've been fishing i've never worn eye protection, never will. Its just how i feel bout it.

Bow, I 've been fishing for 33 years, the accident I talked about happened 10 years ago, as I said, I wear glasses because I have to, but wearing glasses that day saved one of my eyeballs, 1 accident in 33 years but CRAP HAPPENS, if there 's one infinitesimal chance that things can go wrong you can bet they will go wrong.

It 's like not wearing a PFD while you are in a boat, specially in a boat in motion. You may be Mark Spitz but you can also drown. One of my uncles drowned in Lake Avandaro and the man swimed like a dolphin, that day the boat turned over and hit him in the head knocking him out, he was not wearing a PFD.

Wanna see more gruesome stuff ? I can send you a mail with a very interesting presentation on what speeding can cause.

[paparock]

Since I wear prescription glasses, I always either wear eye protection prescription sunglasses or clear for night use.   8-)

[Jeff_NHBA]

Gotta protect the eyes.  I wear prescription glasses with polycarbonate lenses and while fishing I'll either wear my Fit-Overs (grey lens) or Cocoons amber (lens) sunglasses.  The amber lens also provides excellent color definition, great for deer season...  

[Keithscatch]

I almost alwasy wear sunglasses during the day. 99% of the time. My eyes are sensitive so I make it a habit.

Since I love to night fish though I do wear cheap shop goggles that are clear while driving. Though only when driving. Wearing sunglasses just makes a dark night even darker. I have been doing this for a long time. At night when I set the hook and the line isn't attached to a fish I always close my eyes and if I have time will turn my head. But it only takes one time to ruin something as precious as vision. I will have to wear those goggles more often at night.

I am pretty safety conscious though. I am usually ducking when I have others in the boat with me when they cast, just to be sure.  I have never hooked anyone while in a boat and have yet to be hooked by anyone. But I ALWAYS carry a first aid kit in my boat just in case. I have hooked myself a time or two that it has come in real handy. Since no one else mentioned it I thought I would chime in. Carry a first aid kit with you in your boat. I know several who don't.

[Rebbasser]

Yep, but just polarized lenses.  Been debating getting some clear lenses-not so much for eye protection as keeping my contacts in my eyes while running.  Hasn't been a problem latelu, though-Flyrod and I have been fishing an electrics only lake.

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

For way too many years I wore no eye protection, usually including no sunglasses. They rarely lasted a week, walking off or getting mashed, and I tired of buying the things. I can't remember what they call it, but my eyelids got to where they wouldn't lay on the eyeballs tight due to stretching in wind. I just figured it was normal to see too much eyeball in the mirror after coming home. I'd been boating since 1959 never giving it a thought, just assuming I was getting dry eyes, worsened when I got a bigger faster Ranger in 2002 and doubled my speed. They were dry all right! That bothers still me occasionally even though some surgery partially correct that. Once I needed reading glasses those helped, and I found it easier to just leave them on at night, else they got crushed. They are bifocals, so they wear under polarized ski goggles when underway days. I had a duck hit me across the face at about 55 mph on the job patrolling the river, so the goggles definitely paid off. They didn't help with the sore neck and ringing in the ears for the next 6 months. Speaking of ears, wear protection whenever speeding over the water. A couple of pros are certain their hearing damage is from years of unprotected boating. Probably all of you have heard that roaring while driving home even though it's supposed to be quiet in the truck cab. The rushing wind and loud outboard does damage, no question about it.  

Jim

[tennsopher]

One of my best investmehts this past year was a pair of Native Eyewear sunglasses.They come with four sets of interchangeable lenses.They are the Nano2 style,with polarized brown,orange ,yellow,and clear crystal.Two of the colors really brighten light during dark or overcast conditions and the polarized are great.I always wear them when fishing as I have set the hook and missed,hitting my partner in the eye with the epitome of a bullet weight.Great advice Fish.

[wheezo]

Oh man... I've been wearing polarized sunglasses lately but only to lessen the glare.  This is a great post, I was always afraid that I'd get hooked somewhere.  But never did it cross my mind that the eye was a possibility.  I would never want that to happen to myself or my friends.  It would be much worst if you hooked your friend in the eye. -.-  Great post... you guys may have just saved a few eyes. =)

[jomatty]

lesson was driven home to me just this morning.  i was at the pond before sun up with my son.  i had just had a talk with him and my wife saying we were gonna go shopping and get some clear protective glasses for when we are fishing and it is too dark for sunglasses.  i told him he had to wear some goggles he had at home that were not that clear.  well he couldnt see out of these so i let him take them off.  we actually had a talk about this being the last time we were going to do this.  then i hook into a bass and as im trying to maintain pressure on it he comes to the surface and shakes his head.  the 1/4 oz bullet weight (pegged to the 4/0 hook) shoots like a rocket and drills my son right in the center of the forehead.  thank goodness im not posting a picture of an imbedded hook.  he cried for awhile (he is not yet 4) but was basically unhurt.  just goes to show how easily something can happen.  i think the bass gods were saying "ok we let you off easy since you didnt know any better.  now you know, so quit be stupid.  here is a little whack on the head to send you on the way".

ok, got it, lesson learned,

matt

[GAMEOVER]

I wear glasses as it is. The lenses are scrach resistant and shatter proof so I have no worries about my eyes while fishing.

[OSU_Fisherman]

I can only remember one time in my life that I have had a hook fly anywhere near my when I tried to set it.  It was a jig that I was fishing about 3-5" below the surface and at strike, I guess it hit the bass' lip which popped it out of the water in time for my set.  Anyway, the jig hit me square on the left lens of my sunglasses hard enough to nearly shatter the lens. :-/

The very next day I purchased a very nice pair of Polarized fishing sunglasses that are shatter proof.  They'll always be in the tacklebox. ;D

[BASS fisherman]

Nice pics!  I don't technically wear eye protection so to speak. I wear perscription lenses.  EEWWWW....freaky

[Bream Master]

I've been told, though never tried, that fishing sunglasses can actually help you see the fish in the water more. Is that true?

[bow3022]

Yes polarized glasses do help see bassin the water since it ruduces glare. Now, i see alot of people saying im stupid blah blah blah etc etc. Eye protection isn't for me, its uncofortable, i cant stand it. But i mean what i say, i've never had a single accident where i had a hook in my skin, or something like that. I don't know bout you guys but, i don't set the hook at random and have the hook flying out or something.

[Pa Angler]

I do. Get yourself a good pair of Sunglasses the $10 specials don't give you the UV protection you need Polarizing doesn't give UV protection it's a glare reducer/eliminator. I use the Solar Bats with the foam around the backside of the frames that seals out disturbing light.

[JiggaMan512]

Polarized glasses are a must for day fishing anyways, so if your not wearing them already, your at another disadvantage besides eye protection. I say, kill two birds with a pair of polarized shades.  8-)

[Nate D]

I do now 3 months ago i didn't unfortunately a bass exploded on my cousin's torpedo, he set the hook and to make a long story short the torpedo came flying out of the water and hooked me in my left eye where the white of the eye meets the color. Thank God the hook popped out as fast as it penetrated or more damage would have been done. The doctor says he is amazed that i am not completely blind in my left eye. However i do have permanent damage, 20/30 vision to be exact, which really bothers me at night when i get hit with headlights as it puts a strange haze on any kind of light. Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a pair of sunglasses or safety glasses and wear them. Fishing is fun and enjoyable but it is unpredictable and can have it's fair share of hazards. I had to learn the hard way and there is no price on something as precious as vision.