Winston Sold

[Bamboozle]

As someone who owns more than a few Winston rods, I hope this is good news and some old favorite might come back:

R.L. Winston Rod Company is Acquired by new Owner - R.L. Winston Fly Rods

For Immediate Release 5/14/2026 R.L. WINSTON ROD COMPANY | BAUER FLY REELS 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...

winstonrods.com

 

[poopdeck]

Hopefully the new owner can get their prices down to about 250.00 max so I can see what all the hype is about.

 

[Fredrick]

Seems like every Winston rod does poorly whenever they are rated against other rods, yet they charge premium prices. Hopefully a new direction will make the performance live up to the hype.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

how many of those rod shootouts are designed to sell rods to people who think they need to cast 100' with a 3wt, though?

 

[SBecker]

I will stand by my opinion the the 9ft 5wt BIIIx is one of the best casting rods ever made.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I will stand by my opinion the the 9ft 5wt BIIIx is one of the best casting rods ever made.

I'd say "we don't all have Becker money to burn" but that's like the going rate for fly rods in 2026, I guess.

 

[JG63]

“Get those outsourced blanks stockpiled boys!” - new owner

 

[Bamboozle]

Rod choice SHOULD be 100% based on what action the angler seeks in a rod and can afford, not what some wannabe celebrity fisherman says in a podcast shootout.

I bet you I own a basket full of fishing rods, spinning, casting & fly that I would be looking to replace if I listened to some reviewer. Instead, I bought them because I thought they would work for me, took them fishing and still use them to this day.

When I "discovered" Winston rods in the early 2000's, I was coming off several decades of fishing nothing but bamboo. I wanted something new, graphite & made in the USA and at that time, they were the only current rods I cast that didn't feel like a club. Fortunately for me, they didn't cost ANYWHERE near what they do today and they are still going strong.

Bottom line for me, it really doesn't matter what direction the new owner takes the company as long as I have some satisfactory recourse if I ever have a warranty claim.

I just hope the new owner of Winston doesn't do what the new owners did to Tom Morgan Rodsmiths and kill the company & legacy by biting off more than they could chew.

It might sound like a good idea to have a passionate fly angler own a fly fishing company, but most times a businessperson who also fishes or surrounds him or herself with passionate anglers will do a better job....

 

[SBecker]

I'd say "we don't all have Becker money to burn" but that's like the going rate for fly rods in 2026, I guess.

In fairness, I actually traded another rod for it and it was used. lol

 

[mr7183]

Seems like every Winston rod does poorly whenever they are rated against other rods, yet they charge premium prices. Hopefully a new direction will make the performance live up to the hype.

This is a ridiculous comment. Winston makes rods that are softer action and favor the "Winston feel." They do not design rods to win casting shootouts. That said, the current Air 2 is widely regarded as one of the best rods of the past 10+ years.

Related to the sale, this is about as good of an outcome for Winston fans as one could hope for with a transaction. It wasn't sold to a conglomerate like Far Bank of Revelyst and we have a new private owner that clearly respects the brand and history.

Tight lines.

 

[SBecker]

This is a ridiculous comment. Winston makes rods that are softer action and favor the "Winston feel." They do not design rods to win casting shootouts. That said, the current Air 2 is widely regarded as one of the best rods of the past 10+ years.

Related to the sale, this is about as good of an outcome for Winston fans as one could hope for with a transaction. It wasn't sold to a conglomerate like Far Bank of Revelyst and we have a new private owner that clearly respects the brand and history.

Tight lines.

Air 2 is my next rod. I loved how the 7wt cast.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I was coming off several decades of fishing nothing but bamboo. I wanted something new, graphite & made in the USA

Now why would you go and do that? 😉