Best Fishing Gloves: Sun Protection, Cold Weather, and Fish Handling Gloves
Fishing gloves fall into two completely different categories that get conflated when you search for them: sun-protective warm-weather gloves and insulating cold-weather gloves. What works for July striper fishing on LIS is useless for February ice fishing on a CT pond, and vice versa. This guide covers both categories clearly.
Some links in our gear reviews may be affiliate links — we always disclose when they are. We never accept payment for favorable coverage. If something isn't worth your money, we'll say so.
Buff Pro Series Sun Gloves
Best summer fishing gloves for sun protectionThe Buff Pro Series sun gloves are what I wear on every warm-weather saltwater trip. The back-of-hand sun protection significantly reduces long-term skin damage during multi-hour sessions on the water. The open-palm design means you don't sacrifice rod feel or lure sensitivity. On an 8-hour striper trip in July, these are the difference between sunburned hands and protected skin.
Glacier Glove Perfect Curve Cold Weather Glove
Best cold-water and ice fishing gloveCold-water fishing — early spring wade fishing in 40°F water, late fall surf fishing in wind, ice fishing at 15°F — requires handwear that keeps you functional. The Glacier Glove Perfect Curve is the standard among CT striper guides in late fall: warm enough for sustained use, dexterous enough to tie knots and handle fish. The open fingertip design is the key feature — retractable fingertips give you full dexterity when needed.
Fish Monkey Full Finger Guide Glove
Best full-finger fishing glove for grip and sun protectionFish Monkey gloves are popular among professional fishing guides and competitive bass anglers because the full-finger design provides both sun protection and grip on line and rods. They feel bulkier than fingerless gloves initially, but the grip improvement during hook sets and fish handling is noticeable. Good for anglers who want maximum sun protection or who handle large, slippery fish regularly.
Buying Guide
**When You Need Gloves Fishing**
**Summer sun protection**: Hands and the backs of hands receive direct UV exposure during long fishing sessions. Standard sunscreen wears off, especially when handling fish. Sun gloves provide persistent protection and are worth wearing on any fishing session over 3 hours in direct sun.
**Cold water (below 50°F water temp)**: Cold water contact causes hands to lose dexterity faster than air temperature alone suggests. Wet cold is more dangerous than dry cold. Cold-water gloves with waterproof properties keep functional hand temperature during extended sessions.
**Fish handling for catch-and-release**: Grip gloves reduce slippage when handling large fish and protect against dorsal spines, tail edges, and sharp scales. For handling large stripers, bluefish, or pike, grip gloves prevent the involuntary squeezing that can injure fish.
**Dexterity Requirements**
The most common fishing glove complaint: can't tie knots. This is a real issue. When evaluating gloves, consider whether you'll need to tie knots while wearing them. Open-finger or foldback-finger designs address this. Test glove dexterity by trying to pinch something small before purchasing — you'll know immediately if you can tie an improved clinch knot in the dark while wearing them.
**Maintaining Fishing Gloves**
Rinse in freshwater after saltwater use. Let dry completely before storing. Wool or fleece linings can mildew if stored damp — a significant problem for ice fishing gloves stored in a cold garage between trips. Turn inside-out to dry the lining completely.
Complete gear reviews for every season — subscribe to Hooked Fisherman.
Sign Up — Free