Polarised Sunglasses for Carp Fishing: How to Spot More Fish

The most important aspect of carp fishing is finding the fish and making sure that you are fishing where they are.

You can have the best tackle and bait in the world, but if you aren’t anywhere near carp, then you aren’t going to catch any, so finding them, or working out where they are going to be, is critical and makes all the difference between catching and blanking.

Some of this comes down to using your watercraft and what you have learnt over the years, to help you pinpoint where they might be at certain times of the year, or in particular weather conditions.

Observation whilst you are at the lake also plays a massive part though, and when it comes to essential items of fishing tackle, a decent pair of polarised sunglasses should definitely be a part of your kit.

Going out and buying an expensive pair of glasses isn’t going to catch you more carp though, unless you actually use them properly, as well as picking a pair in the first place which have the right type of lenses, as opposed to just looking good or fashionable.

What are polarised sunglasses?

Most people have heard of polarised sunglasses – incorrectly sometimes referred to as polaroid sunglasses! – and have a vague idea that they enable you to see better as they cut out glare, but not many know the reason why.

To understand this, it is first important to realise the difference between standard sunlight, which bounces around in all directions; versus reflected light, which largely turns into horizontal light waves when it bounces off of a flat surface – such as the surface of a lake – and which feel very harsh to our eyes, and hence why we describe it as glare and it can often make us squint.

Basically, a polarised lens contains a polarising filter, and if you looked at it closely enough with a microscope, you would see that it is made up of a series of tiny vertical strips with gaps in between.

Without going into too much scientific detail, the vertical gaps allow vertically angled light – such as some of that coming directly from the sun – to pass, but will block out most of the horizontal light, which hurts your eyes and causes you to squint.

Because it filters out light reflecting off of the water surface, you’re not only able to comfortably look at it whilst wearing polarised sunglasses, but the lack of glare also enables you to actually see through the surface and down into the water.

Why are polarised sunglasses such an advantage for fish spotting?

Being able to see through the surface of the water and down into it is a massive advantage when it comes to seeing what is actually going on below the surface.

Whilst it is often easy to spot carp with their backs out of the water bow-waving around on a hot day, even without any sort of sunglasses, on other days when they are less obvious and aren’t breaking the surface, a good pair of polarised glasses can make the difference from being able to see nothing – especially if the angle of the sun isn’t just right – to being able to observe where the fish are and how they are moving around, to the extent you might be able to work out a patrol route and intercept them.

A pair of polarised sunglasses won’t only help you when you are peering down into the margins looking for fish close to the bank. Cutting out that surface glare will often make the carp far easier to spot as well further out into the lake, as long as they are close to the surface, the water is clear, and it isn’t windy – obviously if there is a chop on the surface or the lake is muddy coloured, then you aren’t going to spot much!

The reason why you can spot carp more easily when looking through the water, is of course largely down to cutting out that surface glare, but a good set of polarised glasses also increases the contrast between the fish and the background, making it more likely to stand out, and especially if the fish is swimming along deeper down or on the bottom. Basically, it makes the chances of you being able to see a carp against the background higher.

How far down into the water you will be able to spot fish is determined by a lot of factors, including water clarity and the angle of the sun at that time, plus of course how good the lenses are in your glasses.

It isn’t just when trying to look into the water though that polarised glasses are an essential piece of fishing kit, but also for cutting out a lot of glare from the water when you’re staring out at the lake looking for signs of jumping or bubbling carp, and without which not only makes them harder to spot, but also causes strain on your eyes from squinting into the glare for prolonged periods of time.

How Do Different Lens Colours Affect Visibility When Fish Spotting?

You will likely have noticed that fishing sunglasses come with a variety of different coloured lenses.

The colour of the lens itself doesn’t actually affect the polarisation, as the light still comes through the same way, and with parts of it being filtered out.

What the lens colour does do though is changes the contrast, depth perception, plus the colour accuracy, of what you are seeing through the water, and it will vary depending on the light levels.

One of the main reasons that you are able to see better with polarised lenses is that it ramps up the contrast and makes it easier for you to spot an object (a carp) against the background. How easily you can spot that difference will also depend upon the colour of the background (weed is totally different to gravel) and how well the fish stands out against that.

No lens colour is perfect for every fishing situation and light level, and some anglers will actually carry a couple of different types, with one being for use on brighter days, and the other if they need to use them in lower light levels – so something like a grey or brown pair, plus another set with yellow lenses, would be quite common.

The material that the lenses are made from also plays a part, but not in terms of the way you see through the water particularly, as that is determined by the polarised coating on the lens.

Glass lenses are generally more expensive and also have better optical clarity, meaning that your vision will be clearer, and they are also a lot more scratch resistant as well, but susceptible to any sudden impact.

Polycarbonate lenses don’t perform as well as glass in terms of visual clarity, and are also susceptible to scratches if not cared for properly, but they are a lot more impact resistant, meaning that if you do drop them then they have a better chance of surviving unscathed, plus much more lightweight than glass.

Lens Colour: Quick Comparison

Are polarised sunglasses useful for more than just fish spotting?

Whilst there is a lot of focus on fish spotting, a set of good fishing sunglasses allows you to do a lot more than that, and they can help you to identify areas to fish on within your swim.

If the water is clear and shallow then you’ll be able to see the bottom, at shorter range at least, and identify the type of lakebed it is based on the colour you are seeing.

A clear gravel spot will often show up as a glowing yellow or lighter area, against the contrasting darkness of weed or silt on the lakebed.

This will also help you to identify clear spots amongst weed, and especially where you can actually see the weed coming well off of the bottom, and then there are some glowing spots amongst it.

Even further out into the lake, and with the right light conditions, you will potentially be able to see these areas. This is all part of using your watercraft to work out where the carp are likely to feed and the best spots to try and intercept them and get a bite.

Sunglasses really come into their own though for feature finding when fishing at closer range and looking directly into the margins, including when you are stalking. They also are something that most anglers won't go surface fishing without and are an essential piece of floater fishing kit.

Rather than just being able to identify likely larger areas, as long as the water is clear and fairly shallow, you will pretty much be able to identify exactly which stone you want your hookbait to be sat next.

Not only will it allow you to identify these spots, but when it comes to positioning your rig, a good pair of fishing glasses will mean that you can watch it all the way to the bottom and see how it has settled, and if it isn’t quite how you want it, then it is easy to lift it up and lower it again.

This is often equally as important as actually spotting and finding the carp, in terms of catching one. 

How else can I improve how many fish I spot?

Whilst having a good pair of polarised glasses will help you to spot more fish, there are other things that you can do which definitely puts things even more in your favour.

The angle at which you are looking into the water plays a big part in how well you can see through the surface and down into the lake. The shallower the angle, the less you will typically see, so if you are able to gain some elevation, either by standing at the top of a high bank, or even climbing a tree (where permitted and safe to do so), then you will be able to see into the water much better – the closer to looking straight down that you can get, the better your vision through the surface will be.

The angle of the sun itself also plays a big part, both in terms of the amount of glare coming off of the surface, and the available light below it, which determines how much you will be able to see.

The best time to actually see into the water is in the middle part of the day as the sun is overhead and shining well down into the water, plus the angle of glare and reflection is much more manageable. When the sun is low the glare can be very hard to see through, even with polarised sunglasses, plus there is far less ambient light to help you see what is below the surface and deeper down.

Simply shielding your eyes, either with your hand, or ideally some sort of cap or bucket style brimmed hat, as that can also help to reduce glare. Plus putting your hands around your face/eyes like that can have a sort of tunnel vision effect where there are less distractions in your peripheral vision and you’re able to focus solely on the bit of water you’re looking into.

It isn’t just sunglasses that help you to spot, and there are plenty of anglers that won’t go fishing without a set of binoculars.

These are ideal for being able to zoom in on signs of activity, such as watching carp bubbling as they feed and where that is happening far enough from the bank that it can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Binoculars also make it easier to spot fish that are up on the surface further out into the lake – whilst your eyes might not spot the top of a dorsal fin protruding from the surface in the middle of the lake, a pair of binoculars will enable you to see that.

They are also essential if you are fishing with adjustable zig rigs, as they allow you to see both your hookbait and your zig float on the surface, and to watch as each disappears under it as you pull line down, so you know exactly what depth you are fishing at – and after initially casting out can also see that everything is sitting right and isn’t tangled.

How Do I Choose the Right Polarised Sunglasses for Carp Fishing?

The first thing to understand is that there is no single pair of sunglasses that is best for everything, although some are more all-rounders, whilst others are more for specific light conditions.

You need to consider that you might need two different pairs, with different lens colours, to cover most of your fishing, and that would consist of a pair with grey or brown lenses for daytime general use, and another pair with yellow lenses for any lower light condition. If you only tend to fish in the evenings or early mornings then you can probably get away with just the yellow lenses.

Understandably, you might not want to purchase, or have to carry, two different pairs of glasses. If that is the case, then get a pair that is suitable for all-round use in most light conditions, and whilst they won’t be perfect, they will do the job.

As well as having the right sort of lenses, in the right colour, whichever sunglasses you choose need to fit well and feel comfortable on your face.

There are all different styles – even within the Korda polarised sunglasses range there are a number of the most popular types, including wraps and aviator-style models – and different people will either prefer one type based on looks, or find that they fit better.

The last thing you want when looking down into the water is worrying that your glasses are going to fall off into it, or have to be constantly pushing them back up your nose, and that movement of your hands potentially spooking the fish.

How they look, in terms of fashion, will of course play a part for many anglers as well, but you should always choose your fishing glasses based on their performance, not how they look.

Fish Spotting: Quick Questions

Do polarised sunglasses help you see carp?

Yes. Polarised sunglasses reduce glare reflected from the surface of the water, making it easier to see beneath the surface and spot carp. They can also increase the contrast between a fish and its background, making carp easier to identify, particularly when they are swimming deeper or close to the bottom.

What are polarised sunglasses used for in carp fishing?

Polarised sunglasses are useful for spotting carp and other signs of activity, but they can also help you find features and clear spots, identify weed and lakebed types, and watch your rig as it settles on the bottom. They are particularly useful when fishing close to the margins or when stalking.

What colour polarised lenses are best for carp fishing?

There is no single lens colour that is best for every carp fishing situation. Grey or brown lenses are useful for general daytime fishing, while yellow lenses can be useful in lower light conditions such as overcast days, mornings and evenings. Some anglers carry more than one pair so they can choose the most suitable lens for the conditions.

Can polarised sunglasses help you see spots on the lakebed?

Yes. In clear, shallow water, polarised sunglasses can reduce surface glare enough to allow you to see the lakebed and identify features such as gravel, weed and clear spots. This can help you work out where carp are likely to feed and choose suitable areas to fish.

Are polarised sunglasses useful for stalking carp?

Yes. Polarised sunglasses are particularly useful when stalking because they can make it easier to see into the margins and identify features, clear spots and individual areas of the lakebed. They can also allow you to watch your rig all the way to the bottom and check how it has settled.

Do different lens colours affect how well you can see fish?

Yes. Lens colour does not determine whether a lens is polarised, but it can affect contrast, colour perception and the apparent brightness of what you are seeing. Different lens colours can therefore be more useful in different light conditions, and the best choice will also depend on the colour of the lakebed and background against which you are trying to spot fish.

Are glass or polycarbonate lenses better for fishing sunglasses?

Both glass and polycarbonate lenses can be used for polarised fishing sunglasses. Glass generally offers better optical clarity and greater scratch resistance, but is heavier and less resistant to sudden impact. Polycarbonate is much lighter and more impact resistant, although it is more susceptible to scratching if not cared for properly.

How can I improve my chances of spotting carp?

As well as using good polarised sunglasses, gaining elevation can improve your view into the water, while the angle of the sun and your position on the bank also affect visibility. Shielding your eyes with a hand or a brimmed hat can reduce glare and help you concentrate on the water. Binoculars can also help you spot distant carp, bubbling fish and other signs of activity.