Hobie® Eyewear Elevated Angler Vision at the 2024 Hobie® Bass Open Series Tournament of Champions on Santee Cooper Lakes

Oceanside, CA (Nov. 12, 2024) – Hobie® Eyewear was proud to enhance the experience for elite bass anglers at the 2024 Hobie® Bass Open Series (BOS) Tournament of Champions, held on the renowned Santee Cooper Lakes in South Carolina. As a premier event in competitive kayak fishing, this tournament attracted 65 top anglers, including past champions and renowned professionals, for an exciting weekend of skill and strategy on the water.

As part of its event support, Hobie® Eyewear gifted each competitor a pair of sunglasses featuring their Sightmaster™ Plus polarized lenses and a Hobie® Eyewear hat. These lenses are engineered specifically for bass fishing, with advanced technology that enhances vision in low-light conditions and reduces glare to reveal hidden underwater structures and fish movements.

On day 1 of the tournament, TOC newcomer John Kline landed a 20.25” bass, crediting his Hobie® Eyewear Hank Cherry Edition Mojo Float sunglasses as the key gear that helped him spot this giant catch.

Dylan Coates, Hobie® Eyewear’s Marketing Manager, explained, “We equipped all anglers fishing in the Hobie® Bass Open Series Tournament of Champions with our Sightmaster™ Plus lenses because they’re a game-changer for serious competitors. These lenses have become the standout choice among top anglers, offering the performance edge needed to spot fish and structure with precision. With the tournament taking place in the cloudy, overcast conditions typical of fall, the Sightmaster™ Plus lenses were crucial for enhancing visibility and reducing glare, allowing anglers to maintain focus in challenging light. Simply put, they delivered the clarity and confidence needed to perform at the highest level.”

Kristine Fischer, the 2021 champion, shared her excitement about using Hobie® Eyewear’s lenses during the competition: “With a lot of rain and cloudy skies in the forecast, it’s never a better time to have the Hobie® Eyewear Sightmaster™ Plus lenses. They’re a huge factor for me. A lot of the big fish are up shallow, and it’s so nice to have a lens that helps you see in the water to spot stumps, clumps of Hydrilla, and eelgrass. They provide a big advantage for me.”

Similarly, Garrett Wade highlighted the importance of the lenses for this year’s conditions: “This weekend is going to be very cloudy, and Hobie® Eyewear’s Sightmaster™ Plus lenses do a great job of really brightening things up and cutting through the glare on the water. They’re going to be key this week in these conditions.”

A Star-Studded Roster of Hobie® Eyewear Ambassadors

The Tournament of Champions featured an impressive lineup of Hobie® Eyewear Ambassadors, including former champions and experienced pros:

Jody Queen (2019 Champion – Lake Ouachita)
Kristine Fischer (2021 Champion – Lake Eufaula)
Brian Nelli (2022 Champion – Lake Caddo)
Brady Storrs (2023 Champion – Lake Chickamauga)
Abby Abbondanza
Garin Butler
Jordan Marshall
Dustin Murguia
Garrett Wade

Abby Abbondanza wrapped up the year with a top 10 finish in the TOC after winning the BOS tournament on Logan Martin Lake, AL earlier this season. His Hobie® Eyewear Hank Cherry Edition Bluefin Float sunglasses have been key to his consistent success all year.

These accomplished anglers are trusted advocates for Hobie® Eyewear’s performance-driven lenses and understand the competitive advantage that Sightmaster™ Plus lenses offer in real-world fishing scenarios. Abby Abbondanza emphasized the practicality of Sightmaster™ Plus lenses, noting, “The Sightmaster™ Plus lenses have become a staple in my fishing. I’ve been grateful that they’ve allowed me to see the stumps beneath the surface. They allow me to see right through the water, no matter what kind of glare. Why spend hundreds of dollars, when you can get affordable sunglasses with Hobie® Eyewear?”

Jody Queen also expressed his reliance on the lenses, saying, “The Sightmaster™ Plus lenses are valuable for me to see all the stumps and the logs in the water that I’m running over. When fishing shallow water, they allow me to see all the grass beds since they’re a real bright lens.”

Jody Queen secured 3rd place in Angler of the Year! His Hobie® Eyewear Hank Cherry Edition Bluefin Float sunglasses have become essential gear for competing on the water.

About the Sightmaster™ Plus Lens Technology. Hobie® Eyewear’s Sightmaster™ Plus lenses were specially crafted for the unique demands of bass fishing. These lenses feature a yellow tint ideal for low-light conditions, such as early mornings, late afternoons, or cloudy skies. Their advanced polarization reduces surface glare, allowing anglers to see underwater precisely, whether navigating weed lines or tracking fish in shallow coves. By enhancing contrast and visibility in murky conditions, Hobie® Eyewear Sightmaster™ Plus lenses offer anglers a critical visual advantage, turning the water into a clear stage for observing fish and underwater structures.

For more information on Hobie® Eyewear and the Sightmaster™ Plus lenses, visit www.hobieeyewear.com.