WFT acquires sole rights to Pelzer brand following death of founder

World Fishing Tackle (WFT) has purchased the sole rights of the Pelzer fishing brand following the recent untimely death of Markus Pelzer, the well-known carp angler, product developer, photographer and writer.

WFT has collaborated with Pelzer for more than ten years and following the acquisition will continue to develop and distribute the brand. The brand was WFT’s route into the carp market and has grown year-on-year ever since. The Pelzer catalogue now carries more than 500 products.

“World Fishing Tackle GmbH & Co KG would in particular like to thank the Pelzer family who, despite these difficult times, reacted quickly and professionally to complete this brand transfer,” WFT’s Managing Director, Christian Dibisch, told Angling International on the day the deal was done.

Pelzer died aged 49 from natural causes. He caught his first carp at the age of six and went on to catch his favourite species in more than 100 different bodies of water in different countries, including France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Hungary and the Netherlands But his real passion was fishing the waters in his home country of Germany.

In 2005 he was labelled ‘history maker’ by British magazine Carptalk when he landed a 32.1kg (71lb) common, his second carp over the 30kg mark. This made him the first angler in the world to catch two carp over 30kg – and just six weeks later he made it three with a mirror of 32.4kg.

In 2007, the irrepressible Pelzer caught his best ever carp, another mirror weighing 32.8kg. But even this was eclipsed in 2010 when, between June and October, he landed three commons of 32.9kg, 36.4kg and 40.2kg, the latter a world record.

Pelzer had his own column in Angelwoche magazine and answered readers questions for more than 15 years. He also made films and DVD’s and was author of the books Karpfen Angeln (2004) and 150 Carp Questions (2006).