Smith Optics, Inc. announced sponsorship additions to its fishing program as well as additions to its collection of watersports eyewear, including new polarized Bronze Mirror and Blue Mirror lens tints in the proprietary ChromaPop lens technology.
Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, Smith Optics was founded in 1965 with the creation of the first goggle featuring a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam. Today, Smith is known for its diverse line of sunglasses, snow and motorsports goggles, snow helmets, premium protective eyewear and ophthalmic eyewear.
Announced this week, Smith Optics has partnered with Flats Class TV, a saltwalter-angling program true to its roots for flats enthusiasts. Flats Class TV host and new Smith Optics brand ambassador, C.A. Richardson, said, “the introduction of ChromaPop is a real game changer for shallow water anglers — delivering sight-fishing enthusiasts a pair of optics that create maximum color contrast and definition by eliminating color confusion. Now, an angler can quickly distinguish a single bonefish over sand, a tarpon under a school of bait or a speckled trout suspended over turtle grass in an instant; this allows for quicker more accurate presentations and ultimately better hook up ratios.”
Professional bass angler, Luke Clausen, has rejoined Smith Optics for the 2014 season as a brand ambassador. One of only five to win the Bassmaster Classic (2006) and the FLW Forrest Wood Cup (2004), Clausen has been a long-time user of Smith sunglasses. “The new ChromaPop lens has improved my vision on and off the water. Objects have more precise clarity and colors are more vivid. When I take the glasses off I feel like I am going from an HD to regular-def world,” said Clausen.
Clausen and Richardson join Bruce Chard, a fly fishing flats guide in the Florida Keys for more than 20 years, as key ambassadors for Smith’s fishing program. Specializing in sight fishing for bonefish, tarpon and permit, Chard has become one of the most sought after fly fishing guides in the Southeast while also authoring the upcoming release of his new book on tarpon fishing.
Barry and Cathy Beck, guides and trip hosts for Frontiers International and considered “the first couple of fly fishing,” continue their long-standing relationship with Smith Optics and the promotion of its eyewear through the 2014 season.
Smith products are sold in more than 50 countries through sporting goods and specialty stores. For more information, check out smithoptics.com.
