Handmade beats mass‑produced. You want lures that move right. You want colours that pop. And you want gear built by anglers who care. That’s BONIbaits. Let’s look at what softbait to buy, when to throw it, and how each model stacks up for value. 

Why BONIbaits stands out 

BONIbaits is a small brand where every lure reflects their guiding principle: “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.” The message is simple. Build lures that anglers trust. 

Here, you’re buying 100% handmade softbaits from Sweden, built since 2015 and proven on Monster Pikes, including many over 13 kg. That’s a maker with years of pouring, painting, and testing under the belt. Each bait is poured and painted by hand. The plastic is phthalate‑free, which is a strong call if you care about your waters and your kit. So you can fish with a clear conscience.

This is also a brand that enjoys your wins. Send your catch photos by email. Each month, one picture gets a goodie bag stuffed with Happy’s. It’s a small touch that says a lot: they care about anglers and the fish they catch. 

Pike lures: the Happy and HappySlim families

You fish pike for hits you feel in your bones. BONIbaits build bodies and tails to push water and hold a profile. You get three families for pike: Happy (Classic), HappySlim, and HappyHybrid. Each answers a different need. 

The Happy 16 (Classic) looks like a hurt baitfish. It’s your compact “do everything” body when pikes are picky. The HappySlim range stretches that shape. It keeps a smaller belly and wide back to show a strong profile and throw a side-to-side action. It fishes slowly and pairs well with a shallow screw. Finally, the HappyHybrid adds a curly tail behind a paddle section to mix lift and thump. It can even be worked high in the water by keeping your rod tip up. So this range covers flats, weed edges, and wind-blown banks 

Happy 16 (Classic)

This is the original BONIbaits seller. Happy 16 (Classic) imitates a hurt fish. That’s exactly what you want for pressured or cold fish that need a convincing target. It has already produced supersized pike, including a 17.1 kg fish, a 15.2 kg fish, and many between 10–13 kg. Serious pedigree for a 16 cm lure that weighs 55 g.

Colour coverage is broad, so you can match dirty, clear, and tea-stained waters. You’ll scroll a long list of options —from Roach to Pinky Pike, Red Motoroil, Gold Perch, Blue Arlee, UV SIK, Golden Sarv, and many more. Use it when fish are wary, light is sharp, or water is cold. The compact length and light weight make all‑day casting easy while still keeping a chunky profile.

Work it slow. Add a light stinger if you need to widen hook-up range.

HappySlim family

HappySlim changes the body geometry. You get a slimmer belly and a wide back for a pronounced silhouette. This is to yield smoother side to side action. It’s built for slow retrieves and described as working very good with a shallow screw. Sizes run 18 cm, 23 cm, 27 cm, and a jumbo 40 cm. That gives you a neat stair-step from “searchy mid-size” to full dinner-plate displacement. 

HappySlim 18

This is the neat “all-day” size. 18 cm. 55 g. It has a smaller belly and a wide back to show a bold underwater profile. You can get either one 2/0 treble on a stinger or two 1/0 trebles. Because it swims at a slow pace, it’s ideal for cold water or heavy pressure. With both naturals and bold tones, so you can pick contrast levels that suit your water. That variety helps you switch looks without changing the winning profile. Use a shallow screw over reed tops and slow-roll it along lanes. 

HappySlim 23

Move up when you want more push. 23 cm. 95 g. The recommended stinger is two 2/0 trebles. It still holds that side-to-side sway and likes a shallow screw. Who should fish it? Anyone wanting a medium‑large silhouette with manageable weight. It’s a sweet spot for casting all day without giving up. The colour grid is huge, from Dracula to Motoroil to Yellow Tiger and more, so you can tune for algae, peat, or bright sun. It’s the size you throw when the 18 cm gets followed, not eaten. 

HappySlim 27

It is still slim, still wide‑backed, still side‑to‑side, and still strong with a shallow screw. Suggested stinger: two 2/0 or 3/0 trebles. 

Why go 27? You want more thump, more draw, and a bigger target. It’s a clear move when fish want a meal, not a snack. Stick with the shallow screw when you need height over weed. Drop to two 3/0 on days you want an extra hook bite on big tails. Colour options again stretch from natural to bright, so you can keep this size tied on across changing light. 

Treat the HappySlim 27 as your wind‑day anchor. The 195 g body pushes water and steadies the swim when chop muddles visibility.

HappySlim 40

At 40 cm and 380 g, this one is for giants that roam open water or sit off ledges. It’s also for guiding days when you want to filter small fish. There are multiple colours, including Brook Trout and Golden Sarv, so you can tweak contrast by light level without losing realism. 

Use it when bait is large, pressure is low, or you’re filtering small fish. The displacement and length give you reach. Yes, it’s hefty. But some days you need to “go big or go home”. 

HappyHybrid family

The HappyHybrid fuses a paddle tail with a curly tail. That design delivers intense vibration and a dynamic swimming action that calls fish from distance.  Loads of pike have been landed with these models, including as heavy 16.4 kg, 16.1 kg, and 14.8 kg. You can fish a shallow screw to keep it high, then hold the rod tip up to buzz the surface when water warms or bait rises. The key promise is range. It works slow, it works high, and it throws a big signal. Pike felt it from far.

HappyHybrid 24

Compact hybrid that weighs ~57 g. You’d fish it for its hybrid vibration in a manageable size—easy to cast, with a big signal that draws strikes. It shines along reed edges, shallow bays, and over grass on warming afternoons, especially with a shallow screw rig that keeps it above snags while holding that hybrid kick. You also get a deep colour bench from Hulk Pike to Whitefish to Baitfish and Transparent UV cues.

HappyHybrid 28

At 28 cm and ~88 g, it follows the same hybrid tail logic. You’d fish it when you want a size jump without the heavy weight. It still carries the buzz-over-weed trick and near-surface track, making it ideal for choppy flats, weedline points, and wind lanes where extra vibration helps fish lock on. Just keep your rod tip high when you need added lift. Colour options cover clear, stained, and peat. Use bright heads under clouds. Save nature for sun. 

HappyHybrid 35

Big presence with a hybrid kick. The ~220 g model even works for trophy intent like when you’re hunting matriarch fish. You’d fish it for the loudest signal in the range, while still being able to work it over grass with a tip-up shallow screw without digging in. It fits long drifts, wind-stacked banks, and bait-heavy water, where size does the sorting and draws the right kind of attention. When you need pressure waves and a strong silhouette, this is your tool. 

Simple pairing tip: If you’re already fishing HappySlim on a spot, keep a Hybrid in a different contrast ready on the deck. 

Perch and Zander Softbaits

The perch and zander models focus on compact bodies with easy rigging. You can run Drop Shot, Offset, Carolina, and Texas rigging options. It’s a soft material, steady swim from about 3 g and up, and packs sized for real fishing days. 

miniHappy 6.5 cm

The 6.5 cm listing sits in the same Perch & Zander family as the bigger shads, so you keep the same rigging freedom in a shorter body. You’re getting a tiny profile with the swim cues BONIbaits leans on across the range Grab multiples when available. Tiny profiles burn through stock. Small bait saves blank days. 

miniHappy 8.5 cm

More body without losing finesse, and it weighs 3 g. It’s available as a 4-pack, which is practical for session planning. You can cover vertical, linear, and cover-penetration rigs. It’s the sweet spot for searching.

miniHappy 11 cm

Going bigger here. Now you’ve got a presence with this 3-pack model. Same rigging options as the rest in the family and it swims very well from about 3 g and up. This one shines for zander edges or rivers where a longer shad tracks straighter. Colour choice matters; pick dark backs for sun and paler bellies for grey days.

NEDHybrid

The NEDHybrid comes in a 5-pack. Compact at just 8.5 cm, it’s designed for versatility—you can run it as a normal shad, rig it Ned-style, or put it on a DropShot where it shines with proven effectiveness. That kind of flexibility means you can cover multiple situations without swapping boxes or wasting time.

Its double paddle tail is the highlight. Those tiny, fast side-to-side moves throw out a sharp signal that fish pick up quickly. Even if one paddle gets torn off, the lure still works flawlessly as a Ned. That reliability, paired with its size and action, makes it a smart, adaptable bait worth keeping ready for perch and zander sessions.

Predator Accessories That Tighten Your System

Good baits deserve reliable hardware, including terminal tackle. BONIbaits provides Wolfram Leaders and Cheburashka weights in several colours. This is small money that saves fish and lures. 

Wolfram Leader

The Wolfram Leader comes in a 2-pack, each trace measuring 25 cm with a 2.5 kg strength rating. It’s built for one clear purpose: saving your softbaits from the teeth of opportunistic pike when you’re targeting perch. That protection keeps your session going without the frustration of bite-offs, which can be costly if you’re throwing premium lures.

This trace earns its place anywhere perch swims alongside pike. It’s light enough to match finesse setups yet strong enough to handle surprise predators. When a venue holds both species, this leader gives you the confidence to fish freely—keeping your bait intact and your chances of landing more fish intact too.

Cheburashka weights (Black Seed, Lemon, Orange)

The Cheburashka heads give you three colour options—Orange, Lemon, and Black Seed—each  a 4-pack. Orange comes in 3 g and 5 g, Lemon in 3 g and 7 g, while Black Seed covers 4 g and 7 g. That range lets you fine-tune weight without bulking your box with endless jig heads. Whatever you choose, you’re paying the same price for the same pack count, which makes planning simple.

The design is all about speed. Each head has a wire opening that, as the product line states, “Makes it easy to change the weight of your jig!” No need for a full re-rig—just swap and keep fishing. That means more casts, more water covered, and fewer breaks in the action. Compact packs, fair pricing, and quick rigging make these heads a practical add-on for any softbait angler.

The 5 Pack: curated sets for pike hunters

You can buy singles. Or you can buy The 5 Pack and stock a session. You spin up a pack and you’re covered for light, wind, depth, and mood. You also reduce the classic mistake of one colour in three. Open the parcel and you’ve got a ready‑to‑fish spread.

Choice paralysis kills more fishing hours than you think. A curated mix forces you to move—tie on, cast, and learn by doing. You cover contrasts and moods without second-guessing, and the fish tell you fast what works. It’s bold, it’s efficient, and it speeds up your learning curve.

The numbers back it up. A Happy 16 (Classic) 5-Pack runs 450 kr, which works out to 90 kr (€8.06.) per handmade lure. Step up to a HappySlim 23 at 650 kr, and you’re still only paying 130 kr (€11.64.) per bait. Even the specimen-sized HappyHybrid 35 keeps it clear: 1 350 kr total, or 270 kr (€24.17) per lure. You always know the value you’re getting, right down to the single bait.

Pick the mix that matches your water. A HappySlim 18 shines for everyday pike—edges, reed gaps, calm bays. Go HappyHybrid 24 when you need shallow screws over weed beds with surface play. And when you want long drifts in bait-rich water, the HappyHybrid 35 brings the big presence and hybrid kick. Two packs together cover completely different jobs, from finesse casting to loud trophy signals. 

BONIbaits Colour variety

Colour sells the bite. BONIbaits gives you a huge palette across sizes and families. You get classic baitfish that look like Roach, Herring, Whitefish, Perch, and Bream. You also get bold, playful, and UV‑leaning tones like Pinky Pike, Hulk Pike, Deadpool, Dracula, L’Orange, Blue Arlee, Rugen, Brook Trout, Transparent id UV, Yellow Tiger, Golden Sarv, and UV SIK.

Pick a simple colour plan

• Run three contrasts. One natural baitfish. One bright or UV. One dark‑backed option. That tiny plan keeps you ready for clear, dull, and low‑light windows without overthinking.
• Naturals that just look right. Roach, Herring, Whitefish, Baitfish 2, and Brook Trout carry calm confidence. They read like food, not fireworks. Add Golden Sarv when you want a subtle metallic lift.
• High‑vis and UV when you need pop. Yellow Tiger, L’Orange, Pinky Pike, Yellow Trout, and Transparent id UV push visibility hard. UV SIK and Dracula add that “see me now” punch when you want colour to pull attention.
• Dark and contrasty for moody water. Motoroil, Motoroil Lake, Silver Black, and Deadpool give you shape and shadow. They frame the body cleanly against peat, weed, or grey skies.

Build a colour set that makes sense

Start with your main family. If you love HappySlim, pick three colours in your best size. One natural. One bright/UV. One dark. That’s a ready day plan.  Mirror the palette across families. Take your winning tones and echo them in HappyHybrid or Happy 16. You switch profile and action without losing a colour you trust.

Think by venue. Small canals like steadier naturals. Windy lakes reward louder choices. Big rivers benefit from clean silhouettes. Keep the same three‑colour logic and you’re covered.

Colour is leverage. BONIbaits gives you the spread to play it smart. Build a small, sensible palette in each family. Then rotate by light and mood. You’ll fish quicker, test better, and stick more fish.

Leader Choice: Wire vs. Fluorocarbon

Picking the right leader is a big part of fishing with BONIbaits. Pike have teeth sharp enough to slice through most lines, so you need protection. At the same time, water clarity, lure style, and fish behaviour all play a role in what you tie on.

Why You Need a Leader

Pike strikes hard and fast. Their teeth are built to shear through anything soft. Standard mono or braid won’t last a second in a mouthful of razors. That’s why leaders exist: they give you bite protection. Without one, you risk losing not just a fish, but also your favourite lure. When you’re throwing handmade softbaits, that’s a loss you feel twice. Leaders also help you fish with confidence. You can cast near cover, pause mid‑retrieve, and work baits slower knowing your connection is secure.

Wire Leaders: Bite-Proof Reliability

Wire is the classic choice for pike. It’s designed to stop teeth, plain and simple. Multi-strand steel or titanium leaders bend and flex but won’t snap under bite pressure. For Irish waters, go for 20–25 lb (9–11 kg) strength and 30–40 cm in length. That length keeps sharp teeth away from your mainline and makes unhooking safer.

Wire leaders are also affordable and easy to find. They last through multiple sessions if you check them regularly. Any kink or fray? Swap it out. The peace of mind is worth it. Many anglers will tell you they’ve never lost a lure to teeth when using proper wire. You can also choose between coated and uncoated versions. Coated leaders reduce glare and give a smoother finish, while uncoated wires are slimmer and more flexible. Both have their place depending on water clarity and your personal preference.

Fluorocarbon Leaders: Stealth with Risks

Fluorocarbons have one big advantage: it’s almost invisible underwater. In gin-clear rivers or lakes, that can make a difference. Predators are less cautious, and you get more confident takes. Fluoro also has a bit of stiffness, which helps reduce tangles when casting lighter softbaits.

But fluoro isn’t perfect. Standard sizes—20 or 30 lb—aren’t enough for pike teeth. To stand a chance, you need 80–100 lb heavy fluorocarbons. At that thickness, you keep some stealth while still resisting cuts. Even then, it’s not foolproof. Some anglers swear by it, others call it risky. It works best with fast-moving lures where pikes are less likely to clamp down fully. It’s also a popular choice when targeting mixed species like zander or perch in waters where pike are present but not the main focus.

Where Wire Works Best

• Fishing in weedy bays where you’ll pause your lure.
• Slow retrieves with BONIbaits Hybrids or Slims.
• Venues packed with pike that inhale lures fully.
• Situations where tackle loss would be costly.
• When you’re targeting trophy fish and want zero compromise.

Here, reliability matters more than invisibility. Wire wins.

Where Fluoro Has an Edge

• Ultra-clear water where visibility spooks fish.
• When you’re fishing shallow and fast, bites are quick.
• For pressured waters where pikes have seen plenty of wire traces.
• When targeting zander or perch but needing some pike insurance.

If you try fluoro, keep it heavy. Inspect often. And carry spares. One nick can cost you a lure, so be disciplined about changing leaders.

Angler Opinions in Practice

On fishing forums and banksides, you’ll hear both camps. Wire users are loyal: “I never lost a bait with wire!” Fluoro fans argue for subtlety and say heavy setups land more bites. The truth is that both work, depending on conditions. What matters most is matching your leader to the water and the way you’re fishing. Many experienced anglers even carry both and swap during the day—wire for snaggy bays, fluoro for open, clear stretches.

Wire equals certainty. Fluoro equals stealth. Both have their place in your tackle bag. If you’re targeting trophy pike with BONIbaits Hybrids, wire gives you security. If you’re on a clear-water zander venue with miniHappy or Ned rigs, fluoro might tempt an extra bite. Know the trade-offs, and you’ll make smarter choices session by session. The best anglers don’t pick one forever—they adapt, switching leaders as the light, clarity, and fish response change across the day.

Build your first BONIbaits kit 

Start simple. Grab a HappySlim 18 for your medium days. Add a HappySlim 23 for a bigger profile when fish want meat. Have a Happy 16 ready for moments when you need a classic body with proven results. 

Add a Hybrid. Choose HappyHybrid 24 if you want that buzzbait option over grass. Go 28 for a size jump with reasonable weight. If you chase specimens, pick 35 and commit.

Cover finesse. When available, get miniHappy 8.5 cm (3 g, 4 pack) and miniHappy 11 cm (3 pack), then add NEDHybrid 8.5 cm (5 pack). These cover Drop Shot, Offset, Carolina, Texas, Ned, and straight shad styles listed on the pages. 

Sort the accessories. Pick up a Wolfram Leader (25 cm, 2.5 kg, 2 pack) for perch waters that also hold pike; that text is lifted straight from the page. Add Cheburashka weights so you can tweak sink rates fast: Orange 3/5 g, Lemon 3/7 g, Black Seed 4/7 g, all as 4 pcs packs. 

Want bulk variety fast? Choose The 5 Pack in the sizes you fish most. This kit works because it’s realistic. You get medium and large pike profiles, a hybrid vibration tool, finesse plastics, leaders for toothy by‑catch, and weights for fast tuning.

Care & Longevity Tips for Your BONIbaits Softbaits

Your BONIbaits have tough builds. But like any quality gear, a little care goes a long way. Treat them right and they’ll reward you with consistent action and long life. Here’s how you can maintain your softbaits sharp, season after season.

Storing Your Softbaits

Keep them in their original bags. The packaging isn’t just for branding—it protects the lures and keeps them from deforming. Soft plastics can react if mixed together, leading to warped shapes or colours bleeding. A simple fix? Keep each pack sealed, then stack them neatly in your tackle box.

When you’re packing light, use zip‑lock bags. They’re cheap, light, and easy to label by size, colour, or rig type. This way you always know what’s inside and avoid digging mid‑session. If you carry multiple species boxes, consider dedicating one small pouch for perch softbaits and another for pike sizes. That makes swaps quicker and avoids tangling.

Controlling Heat and Sun

Soft plastics hate heat spikes. Leaving your lures in the car or on the deck of a boat under summer sun is a recipe for saggy, bent baits. Once they warp, they’ll never swim quite right again and you’ll waste casts.

Store them indoors or in a shaded tackle bag when not in use. If you’re on a multi‑day trip, keep your lure box tucked out of direct sunlight. Think of it like sunscreen for your gear—shade keeps it safe. On hot days afloat, drape a towel over your tackle box or stash it under a seat. Little steps prevent ruined packs.

Choosing the Right Storage Boxes

Hard plastic boxes look tidy but can sometimes stick to softbaits over time. Instead, use boxes with soft dividers or cloth pouches. The smoother surface prevents plastics from bonding and tearing when pulled apart.

Dedicated softbait wallets are another great option. They let you organise packs by family—HappySlims in one slot, Hybrids in another. Quick to grab, quick to swap. If you fish multiple waters, keep a wallet per water type—river wallet, lake wallet, perch wallet. That way you only bring what you’ll actually use.

Keeping Scents and Oils Separate

Some anglers love scented baits. But here’s the catch: oils and additives can leak into other lures, staining or dulling their finishes. Keep your BONIbaits away from scented plastics if you use them. Store them in separate boxes or compartments, ideally sealed tight.

That way, you protect the natural colours that BONIbaits is known for—whether it’s a Roach, Hulk Pike, or Transparent UV. Preserving those finishes means your lures look right in the water, giving fish the cues they’re designed to see.

Rinsing After Use

If you’ve been fishing in brackish or muddy water, rinse your softbaits when you get home. A quick wash under cool water removes grit and salt. Pat them dry with a cloth and let them air‑dry fully before re‑packing. Don’t seal damp baits into bags—moisture left in a bag can shorten the life of your lures and encourage mould.

A two‑minute rinse and dry can add weeks to their lifespan. Make it part of your session routine: rods away, nets rinsed, lures cleaned. That rhythm protects your whole kit.

Rotating Fresh Packs

Soft plastics get chewed. That’s the point. But it pays to always keep a few fresh packs ready to rotate in. If you notice one colour or size tearing down quickly, swap it out for a new one. Fresh packs save blank days and keep your confidence high.

Pro tip: When you buy, grab a second pack of your most‑used size. Happy 16s and miniHappy 8.5s are great examples. You’ll thank yourself when stock runs low mid‑season and you’ve already got backup waiting. Even one extra pack can mean uninterrupted sessions when a colour is sold out online or at your local shop.