In his second year on the Bass Pro Tour, Louisiana angler and Bajío sunglasses pro Justin Cooper made big strides. He won his first-ever tour-level event to kick off the season on Lake Conroe in Texas and continued his success for the entire season to qualify for REDCREST. Now that the season is over, Cooper shared a recap of his year and insight on how he chooses the right sunglasses for various fishing techniques.
Looking Back at the Season
The highlight of Cooper's young career so far was his triumph at the first event of the season. That win gave him confidence to know he belongs at this level, and it carried on for the entire season.
"It was a phenomenal season, and to get the win at Lake Conroe, I wasn't expecting that at all," he said. "My whole career coming up, I've been more of a consistent angler who cashes checks and gets a few Top 10s here or there. I knew I could win one of these, but didn't see it coming there. Now, I know I can win again."
His victory came with a $150,000 payday, which helped settle the nerves for the season and let him fish more freely. "That set me up for the year and took that financial burden off," he said. "I wasn't worried about having to play it safe and try to get a check at the next events to keep the lights on at home. I've been there and done that. That win just helped alleviate some of that pressure, and I was able to roll with it."
The rest of the season was solid; he could cash several checks and fish the final day again on Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee. When the dust settled, he ended up 14th in the points race, qualifying for REDCREST and Heavy Hitters, his two biggest goals coming into the year.
Thoughts on Lens Colors and Frames
Quality fishing sunglasses come in many different frame styles and countless lens colors. They all have their time and place, but day in and day out, Cooper has a favorite lens tint that works for just about everything.
"I love the green mirror lenses for almost every situation when it's sunny out," he began. "They are a darker lens, so they block out much of the sun, but still work great when it's partially cloudy."
When it's darker or early in the morning or right before it gets dark, Cooper likes a lighter color, and his choice is Bajío's rose mirror hue.
"The rose mirror lenses are also my favorite for driving my truck since I have dark-tinted windows and they let in more light," he said. "They are also ideal for lowlight conditions on the water and when it's darker from overcast skies."
One final lens color he uses is the violet mirror, which has a yellow base. "Those are more specific for me. That's what I like to use whenever I am sight fishing," he said. "They let in the most light, which is perfect for sight fishing in shallow water."
All these lenses are available in glass and polycarbonate, but Cooper prefers the glass versions. "They are a little heavier, but it's not that bad at all, and they are still very light," he said. "I like a glass lens because it seems a little more durable and scratch-resistant in my experience. They hold up well if you don't drop them right on a rock or something. They've been very durable for my normal use of banging around in the boat and truck."
Another part of the sunglass equation is finding the right frame. A lot goes into this, from a person's style to the size of their face and what they are looking for in a pair. Cooper also looks at how much light they let in on the sides of the eye.
"My regular frame is the Bales Beach, which are very light and comfortable for wearing all day long," he said. "When I'm sight fishing, I like the Vegas, which are slightly thicker on the sides. This blocks out more light coming in on my peripherals. Having a thicker frame is great for making sure you see everything in the water around you."
Justin Cooper's sophomore season on the Bass Pro Tour was a big success; he checked off all his goals and won an event. The Louisiana-based angler now has the confidence that he can compete at the top level of bass fishing, and he looks to build on that next season as he enters his third year of what he hopes is a long and rewarding career.
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