ILBA - Our History

ILBA Fishing Lures: spinners specialist since 1960.

A synonym for authentic Made in Italy craftsmanship, ILBA was founded in Bergamo, Italy, in 1960 from the intuition of two fishermen, Nicola "Lino" Premi and his son Claudio. As early as the 1930s and 1940s, Nicola handcrafted his own spinning spoons for trout fishing using common materials such as tin cans, a skill he later passed on to his son. The two primarily fished in the rivers of the Bergamo valleys, particularly in the Brembo River in Brembana Valley. From this shared passion, ILBA was born, with the goal of creating high-quality handcrafted fishing lures.

Through great dedication and sacrifice, continuous research, the development of know-how, and the creation of specialized machinery, ILBA has become an internationally recognized Italian excellence in the production of fishing lures for various techniques, both in freshwater and at sea. In addition to its own product line, the company has collaborated with numerous prestigious brands in the sport fishing industry, designing and developing custom lure lines for its clients, offering its decades of experience.

The tradition continues with the third generation, grandchildren Marco and Luca, who carry forward ILBA's philosophy based on quality, craftsmanship integrity, innovation, and artisanal mastery, which has made it an icon of sport fishing. Even today, ILBA’s spinning lures are crafted with the same passion and attention to detail that characterized Nicola’s work. In his honor, the Linus spoon lure bears his name, a symbol of a tradition that has lasted for over sixty years.