Old fishermen w// bad eyes, do you prefer polarized readers or a separate pair of readers?

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downriver79

Steelhead
It's official, I need readers to fish. I went out to fish the evening hatch one evening last week. I was able to tie on a #16 hackle stacker w/ 5x before I left the house and had good sunlight. After a little bit of fishing w/ not much action, I bit off my fly and was going to switch to a humpy. Light was a little more dim than when I left the house and for the life of me I couldn't thread 5x tippet through a #16 fly. I started noticing this a little bit last summer, but was always able to get it through eventually. No dice this time. I ended up just tying on a #12 wet fly and fishing until the bats ran me off the water.
So, for those of you who need readers for up close, do you prefer sunglasses w/ bifocals, or carrying a separate pair of readers and putting them on only when necessary? Seems like the polarized bifocals would take some getting used to. Any insight or opinions are appreciated.
 
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I use granny-style readers since bifocals make me woozy (I admit I have not spent the time to get used to them). I don't feel it is a huge time impact switching between sunglasses and readers, or pulling readers out toward dusk, but am really interested to hear others' feedback.
 
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Hobbyranch said:
Tried sunglasses with bifocals but they made me dizzy when watching where my feet were while wading.
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This was my experience as well.

I use CliC readers, as they have a half-frame model that I can close comfortably in front of my sunglasses and not have everything all blurry beyond 3'.

I tried bifocal sunglasses, and they suck out loud for any wading / difficult terrain.
 
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downriver79 said:
So, for those of you who need readers for up close, do you prefer sunglasses w/ bifocals, or carrying a separate pair of readers and putting them on only when necessary? Seems like the polarized bifocals would take some getting used to.
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At 68, I have progressive prescription glasses and use fitover style polarized sunglasses - Cocoons - with a yellow tint for evening and low light fishing. I eventually need to remove the sunglasses to tie on flies but the expensive prescription glasses stay on.

I'm going to try putting some my size 18 to 22 flies on C&F Fly Threaders this year for evening hatches.

It seems like after 60, there's always something new to compensate for!
 
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Thanks for all the input! Seems like the general consensus is about what I was expecting. They make it easy to tie on a new fly but make everything else weird and difficult. I really like the idea of the magnetic clic glasses, but am having a hard time justifying the $40 price tag when I can get a conventional pair for a couple of bucks at the dollar tree. I think I'll start there. Thanks again everyone!
 
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I had cataract surgery about 10 years ago which greatly improved my vision but made reading glasses necessary (opted for correcting far sight vision). Now I wear daily disposable contacts for minor far-sight vision correction and readers for up close. I’m becoming lazier these days and forego the contacts, wearing my progressive bifocals and the prescription sunglasses that I have. Both work fine for me and I haven’t had any issues wading with them, but that day may come.
 
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My bifocals darken in bright conditions but they are not polarized. I have a pair of wraparound sun glasses that are polarized and fit over the bifocals which I only use on very bright conditions were I should probably be going home anyway.:cool:
 
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In the past I did polarized bifocals. Wading: bad. Scrambling down to the stream from the road: dangerous. I went to polarized single prescription shades, with readers. Much better.
 
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Years ago I did a lot of night fishing for sea trout, so I taught myself to tie knots by feel in the dark. Turns out that it is a useful skill now that I can’t focus on anything within range of my arms any more.
I also carry a pair of reading glasses though, because tying on flies isn’t the only thing I need to be able to see for.
 
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_WW_ said:
Flip down magnifiers. Since they only get used for tying on flies they usually ride around on the top of my visor until I need them and switch them to underneath.
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I like this idea.
Chucker said:
Years ago I did a lot of night fishing for sea trout, so I taught myself to tie knots by feel in the dark. Turns out that it is a useful skill now that I can’t focus on anything within range of my arms any more.
I also carry a pair of reading glasses though, because tying on flies isn’t the only thing I need to be able to see for.
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I've done a tone of LMB night fishing, so I can tie a palomar knot on a 5/0 hook blindfolded. But 5x and tiny #16 flies are a whole different ballgame.
 
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Flip down magnifying glasses, the type that attach to the bill of your hat, are my choice. They might take a session or two to get used too but are so easy and convenient to use..

www.orvis.com

Flip Focal

Easily access this clip on magnifier when tying on the smallest flies. Made in USA.
www.orvis.com www.orvis.com
 
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I have sunglasses with progressive lenses. I have been using them for years with no problems wading or walking. But my normal glasses are also progressives so I am used to moving my head as needed to see what I need to see. I tried bifocal sunglasses years ago and they were awkward after using progressives.
 
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I bought a pair a clic reading glasses years ago and they hang around my neck when fishing. It is a pain to take the sun glasses off, and put the readers on, but hey, cuts down on the bad words trying to tie a fly on.
 
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