For Immediate Release
5/14/2026
R.L. WINSTON ROD COMPANY | BAUER FLY REELS
Lance Robertson and David Ondaatje. David owned Winston for 35-years before selling the company to Robertson in May of 2026.
Twin Bridges, Montana— Today, the R.L. Winston Rod Co., Inc. in Twin Bridges, Montana, which makes the celebrated Winston Fly Rods, Bauer Fly Reels and Winston Polarized Sunglasses that are sold around the world, announced that the business has been acquired by an entity owned by Lance Robertson. Mr. Robertson is a long time business leader, engineer, and passionate fly fisherman. He and his family live near Twin Bridges, MT.
“My family and I are excited to have the opportunity to be part of the Winston family,” said Robertson. “We look forward to helping people enjoy their outdoor pursuits and build cherished memories through great products. We look forward to our stewardship of the company as those before us have done, maintaining the company as a family-owned business since its founding. We are focused on maintaining the innovative spirit of the company and products of the highest quality. In addition, we will be purposeful in engaging our customers early in our tenure to understand how best the company can serve their needs in the future.”
“The R.L. Winston Rod Company has a compelling team in place, delivering among the best rods and reels they have ever produced, positioning the company well for a bright future,” says Robertson. “We anticipate the entire Winston team remaining with company moving forward. As part of today’s announcement, I would like to share that Andy Wunsch, General Manager, will continue with the company in the role of President & General Manager.”
“I am really excited about the future for Winston!” Said Winston and Bauer President and General Manager, Andy Wunsch. “Having been here for almost two years, we have an amazing team that takes great pride in their work. We look forward to continuing building outstanding products to be sold by the finest retailers in the world.”
“I also want to thank David for his many years of leadership at R.L. Winston and the great pride he has maintained in the company and its products over his long tenure,” said Robertson. “We are pleased that David will continue to serve the company as an advisor for a year after closing.”
“It has been an honor to have been involved with Winston for more than three decades, and to have worked with outstanding people committed to making the world’s best fly rods every day,” said Ondaatje. “Under Lance, I look forward to celebrating Winston’s industry leadership and success in the years to come. Mostly, I want to say thank you for making my time with Winston the most fulfilling professional experience of my life. It’s a rare thing to get to say you’re involved with a company that makes the best product of its kind in the world. I’ve been lucky enough to do that for 35 years.”
The Winston and Bauer team inside the Twin Bridges, Montana rod building facility.
At this unique junction for the company, it is appropriate to look back at some of the remarkable history. Winston has been based in Montana shortly after Tom Morgan purchased the business from Doug Merrick in the 1970s.
David Ondaatje purchased the Company from Morgan and others in 1991 and has been the owner of Winston for 35 years until today. In that time, Winston grew its reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of fly rods. The Company took greater control over the quality and design of its operations when it built a fully integrated rod manufacturing facility in Twin Bridges in 1995. In 2016, Winston acquired Bauer Fly Reels from Jon Bauer, and in 2024, launched its new line of Winston Polarized Sunglasses.
Winston will continue the innovative spirit of the company by producing fine fly fishing products of the highest quality.
Winston sells its award-winning deep green fly rods under the popular Winston AIR 2 and PURE 2 fly rod lines, Bauer SLT, RX and RVR fly reels, and now polarized sunglasses to the best fly shops across the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, South America and elsewhere. Winston rods have long been celebrated for their beauty and distinctive smooth casting action known as the ‘Winston Action.’ Winston also continues to make a limited number of bamboo rods each year in a dedicated bamboo building also in Twin Bridges, continuing a tradition since the company was created by Lew Stoner and Robert Winther in San Francisco in 1929.
Andrew Martin at Baird advised the Company on the transaction.
For more information on please contact Winston Marketing Manager Adam Hutchison with any questions at:
406-684-5674 ext. 4 or ahutchison@winstonrods.com.
