The Fly Fishing - And Now All Types of Fishing Thread!
Discussion
dickymint said:
Had exactly the same problem. Tried all the work arounds but finally bit the bullet and ordered Oakley prescription glasses. Not cheap - I’ll dig out where I got them from. It was all done online.
I still think it will be the best option for me.My own optician does my Oakley prescription sunglasses for me, as you say not cheap, but they are always great quality.
I wonder how many lifetime's worth of flies I could have bought for the cost of the tools and materials in my fly tying box? 
It's not cost effective, but as has been pointed out it does let you get fussy about hooks, and it lets you tie exactly what you had in mind. And it's a hobby in itself and really satisfying to catch fish on your own ties.
It's not cost effective, but as has been pointed out it does let you get fussy about hooks, and it lets you tie exactly what you had in mind. And it's a hobby in itself and really satisfying to catch fish on your own ties.
I also wear glasses for distance, but have found in recent years that my close up vision has deteriorated, especially when light levels are low.
I first noticed this on Farmoor, late on a summer evening and close to chucking out time when the trout were going nuts for crane flies and I couldn't get the bloody line through the eye of the hook!
I first noticed this on Farmoor, late on a summer evening and close to chucking out time when the trout were going nuts for crane flies and I couldn't get the bloody line through the eye of the hook!
Glasses- can I plug the brilliant OPTILABS ?
My last varifocal polaroids from Boots cost 400 quid . Needing to replace them (old prescription and I'd also sat on them ) I rang Optilabs with my new prescription . They were brilliant , advising me that although they'd do varifocals I was better off with traditional bifocals (' you only are going to use the closeup for tying on flies, and you'll spend most of the time looking at the water'- correct ) ; they also advised on best tint for my usage . Price 'Oh, we're being nice to fishermen this week , now you can get out fishing again so it's £170 including delivery ' .
They arrived a week later and are perfect .
My last varifocal polaroids from Boots cost 400 quid . Needing to replace them (old prescription and I'd also sat on them ) I rang Optilabs with my new prescription . They were brilliant , advising me that although they'd do varifocals I was better off with traditional bifocals (' you only are going to use the closeup for tying on flies, and you'll spend most of the time looking at the water'- correct ) ; they also advised on best tint for my usage . Price 'Oh, we're being nice to fishermen this week , now you can get out fishing again so it's £170 including delivery ' .
They arrived a week later and are perfect .
coppice said:
Glasses- can I plug the brilliant OPTILABS ?
My last varifocal polaroids from Boots cost 400 quid . Needing to replace them (old prescription and I'd also sat on them ) I rang Optilabs with my new prescription . They were brilliant , advising me that although they'd do varifocals I was better off with traditional bifocals (' you only are going to use the closeup for tying on flies, and you'll spend most of the time looking at the water'- correct ) ; they also advised on best tint for my usage . Price 'Oh, we're being nice to fishermen this week , now you can get out fishing again so it's £170 including delivery ' .
They arrived a week later and are perfect .
Have to agree that Optilabs are really good, but for my last set of prescription Polaroids I wanted something different (I need a narrow fit and as Optilabs dont have a great selection to suit) I opted to go with Oakley. The Oakley's have also been terrific although a bit more expensive than Optilabs.My last varifocal polaroids from Boots cost 400 quid . Needing to replace them (old prescription and I'd also sat on them ) I rang Optilabs with my new prescription . They were brilliant , advising me that although they'd do varifocals I was better off with traditional bifocals (' you only are going to use the closeup for tying on flies, and you'll spend most of the time looking at the water'- correct ) ; they also advised on best tint for my usage . Price 'Oh, we're being nice to fishermen this week , now you can get out fishing again so it's £170 including delivery ' .
They arrived a week later and are perfect .
I changed to Maui Jim (optical) last year as I had been using oakley with contacts but the contacts just went powerful enough for long distance. The Maui's have been a game changer, I can actually see the fly lol.
I took up fly fishing 5 years ago and love it but don't do enough of it! My week in Scotland was cancelled this year due to the Corona:-(
Oh well, Autumn will be my next trip to the UK so a reservoir session I think.
I took up fly fishing 5 years ago and love it but don't do enough of it! My week in Scotland was cancelled this year due to the Corona:-(
Oh well, Autumn will be my next trip to the UK so a reservoir session I think.
dlks151 said:
coppice said:
Glasses- can I plug the brilliant OPTILABS ?
My last varifocal polaroids from Boots cost 400 quid . Needing to replace them (old prescription and I'd also sat on them ) I rang Optilabs with my new prescription . They were brilliant , advising me that although they'd do varifocals I was better off with traditional bifocals (' you only are going to use the closeup for tying on flies, and you'll spend most of the time looking at the water'- correct ) ; they also advised on best tint for my usage . Price 'Oh, we're being nice to fishermen this week , now you can get out fishing again so it's £170 including delivery ' .
They arrived a week later and are perfect .
Have to agree that Optilabs are really good, but for my last set of prescription Polaroids I wanted something different (I need a narrow fit and as Optilabs dont have a great selection to suit) I opted to go with Oakley. The Oakley's have also been terrific although a bit more expensive than Optilabs.My last varifocal polaroids from Boots cost 400 quid . Needing to replace them (old prescription and I'd also sat on them ) I rang Optilabs with my new prescription . They were brilliant , advising me that although they'd do varifocals I was better off with traditional bifocals (' you only are going to use the closeup for tying on flies, and you'll spend most of the time looking at the water'- correct ) ; they also advised on best tint for my usage . Price 'Oh, we're being nice to fishermen this week , now you can get out fishing again so it's £170 including delivery ' .
They arrived a week later and are perfect .
Bonefish Blues said:
What's the lens material in Oakleys? (And Optilabs, for that matter?)
The Oakley's are a polycarbonate, the prescription lenses are quite thick in comparison with Optilabs lenses which if memory serves me correctly are also a polycarbonate material. Another drawback with the Oakley's is that the prescription glasses are manufactured in the USA, so a bit longer to wait on them than the Optilabs. 
nigelpugh7 said:
dickymint said:
Had exactly the same problem. Tried all the work arounds but finally bit the bullet and ordered Oakley prescription glasses. Not cheap - I’ll dig out where I got them from. It was all done online.
I still think it will be the best option for me.My own optician does my Oakley prescription sunglasses for me, as you say not cheap, but they are always great quality.
Oakley Frogskins Prescription Sunglasses Polished Clear (Oakley lenses) 9013 - OAKLEY POLARISED 24K Iridium
Size:
One Size
PD:
Let Extreme eyewear measure it (See Info)
Vision (£60.00):
Oakley Varifocal Lenses
1 £338.00
Oakley Tee (L) California Blue
Type:
Free Item
1 £0.00
Subtotal: £338.00
Shipping: £3.00 via Standard Delivery
Payment method: PayPal
Total: £341.00
Dull person alert!
Frogskins are a classic, but I'd not order them as first choice fishing glasses. Why? Because their shape means that inevitably light will get behind the lens, and unpolarised light is the enemy of clear vision. (Unless you add side shields as I used to on my Serengeti Strata Aviators - which if you're not currently using them will make a big difference whilst fishing)
IMHO a cheaper lens which is in a frame which as far as possible excludes stray light is better than the most expensive lenses which do. Fit is the no. 1 choice criterion IMHO.
Told you I was dull - my fetish is exacerbated by me pretty much exclusively fishing saltwater, where light levels are so much higher, and where there's a lot more stay light bouncing around via reflections, but the principle holds, I believe.
Frogskins are a classic, but I'd not order them as first choice fishing glasses. Why? Because their shape means that inevitably light will get behind the lens, and unpolarised light is the enemy of clear vision. (Unless you add side shields as I used to on my Serengeti Strata Aviators - which if you're not currently using them will make a big difference whilst fishing)
IMHO a cheaper lens which is in a frame which as far as possible excludes stray light is better than the most expensive lenses which do. Fit is the no. 1 choice criterion IMHO.
Told you I was dull - my fetish is exacerbated by me pretty much exclusively fishing saltwater, where light levels are so much higher, and where there's a lot more stay light bouncing around via reflections, but the principle holds, I believe.
I must admit that in my fishing , shades are only useful in limited circumstances , but for most of my fishing are far more hindrance than help . On my odd day on a chalkstream , or when stalking fish in bright sun and/or clear water , they are a boon , but in a tree lined small river , with peaty water , and alternating light and shade are usually a total PITA .
I wear glasses anyway, but for the oft made suggestion that you should always wear eye protection , I'd not disagree , but I 'd also suggest improving casting technique is an idea .
I wear glasses anyway, but for the oft made suggestion that you should always wear eye protection , I'd not disagree , but I 'd also suggest improving casting technique is an idea .
Chist he's still going on...
ETA @Coppice
What I don't think people appreciate is how much light even the lightest glasses block. Reference here:
https://www.hobiepolarized.com/lens-colors
If very dark water, then it's an issue, no matter what, but I'd be tempted to try a pair of sunrise/similar yellow tints which allow max transmission (but still not much, in absolute terms), whilst also retaining the benefits of polarisation.
The bane of lives in saltwater is an overcast sky, but the lens colour I wear (called Sightmaster by Hobie, a yellow with a slight green) can cut through like no other lens I've ever tried, so much so that a Guide blagged a pair off me because he'd never seen the like. Still, cheaper than a tip!
ETA @Coppice
What I don't think people appreciate is how much light even the lightest glasses block. Reference here:
https://www.hobiepolarized.com/lens-colors
If very dark water, then it's an issue, no matter what, but I'd be tempted to try a pair of sunrise/similar yellow tints which allow max transmission (but still not much, in absolute terms), whilst also retaining the benefits of polarisation.
The bane of lives in saltwater is an overcast sky, but the lens colour I wear (called Sightmaster by Hobie, a yellow with a slight green) can cut through like no other lens I've ever tried, so much so that a Guide blagged a pair off me because he'd never seen the like. Still, cheaper than a tip!
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