Photos: Westin · product images found via web image search
Predator lures · Soft shads · Our take
Westin Bullteez Shad
7.5 cm, 9.5 cm and 12.5 cm versions
A paddle-tail soft lure with a useful trick up its sleeve: wriggling, belly-flashing movement at low speed. Pick the right size and rig, and you've got a tidy option for working predator swims without rushing through them.
- Freshwater paddle-tail soft lure designed for wriggling and belly-flashing action at low speed.
- 7.5 cm: 4 g per lure, with three lures per pack.
- 9.5 cm: 7 g per lure; 12.5 cm: 16 g per lure. Both come two per pack.
- Back and belly slots accommodate offset hooks; also suitable for shallow rigs and regular jigheads.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Westin Bullteez Shadtail in the three sizes listed here, rather than other Bullteez models or sizes.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
An editorial rating for its design, rigging options and practical appeal; value depends on the shelf price and how many bodies you get through.
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.6/10
- Ease of Use8.5/10
- Value for Money8.3/10
If you buy through our links, we might get a small kickback, but it won’t cost you a penny extra. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The full story
Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Predator anglers working swims slowly. Its intended low-speed movement suits steady retrieves and deliberate coverage of likely holding spots.
- Anglers who switch between open water and cover. Jighead and offset-hook options let you adapt the presentation rather than change the whole lure style.
Maybe skip if
- Anyone wanting a fully rigged, clip-on lure. You'll need to select an appropriate hook arrangement and weight.
- Anglers prioritising maximum durability. A soft shad's body and tail are vulnerable to cuts, particularly when pike are involved.
The lowdown
Introducing the Westin Bullteez Shad
A paddle-tail soft lure with a useful trick up its sleeve: wriggling, belly-flashing movement at low speed. Pick the right size and rig, and you've got a tidy option for working predator swims without rushing through them.
- Freshwater paddle-tail soft lure designed for wriggling and belly-flashing action at low speed.
- 7.5 cm: 4 g per lure, with three lures per pack.
- 9.5 cm: 7 g per lure; 12.5 cm: 16 g per lure. Both come two per pack.
- Back and belly slots accommodate offset hooks; also suitable for shallow rigs and regular jigheads.
Quick verdict
A cracking choice for taking things steadily
The Bullteez Shad makes plenty of sense if you want a soft lure that doesn't need racing back to give it some life. Its paddle tail, slender tail wrist and offset-hook slots give you useful options for open water and snaggy edges alike.
The catch? You'll need to choose and fit a suitable rig, and soft tails aren't immune to tooth damage. Buy it for controlled presentations and rigging flexibility, not because fancy eyes promise you a fish.
An editorial rating for its design, rigging options and practical appeal; value depends on the shelf price and how many bodies you get through.
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.6/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.5/10
- Value for Money
- 8.3/10
Realistic eyes, hand-painted details and dedicated hook slots make for a well-considered soft lure, with the usual vulnerability to tooth damage.
The intended low-speed wriggle and belly flash offer useful presentation options without demanding a fast retrieve.
Controlled speed and adaptable rigging can help you present effectively, but location and depth remain crucial.
A steady retrieve is straightforward, though choosing the right hook and weight takes a little thought.
Multiple rigging options add usefulness, while the two-body packs in the larger sizes make replacement costs worth watching.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Westin
Westin Bullteez Shad (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Westin Bullteez Shad
Some paddle tails make you feel as though you've got to keep winding to justify having them on the line. The Westin Bullteez Shad takes a different tack. It's designed to wriggle and flash its belly at low speed, which is a useful starting point when you want to fish a spot properly rather than skim through it. For predator anglers working canals, stillwaters or suitable river swims, that means a lure built around an unhurried presentation. No magic fish magnet, mate. Just a sensible shape with a clear job.
The important bit is the paddle tail and the slender wrist connecting it to the body. That combination is central to the movement Westin is aiming for: tail action with some life through the shad, rather than a dead-looking body being dragged along. Low-speed action gives you room to experiment with a gentle wind before adding sharper lifts or extra pace. It doesn't mean every retrieve should be painfully slow, though. Let the depth, flow and fish response steer you. Sometimes a change of pace is exactly what gets a following predator to commit.
There are three sizes covered here, and the differences are worth getting straight before ordering. The 7.5 cm version weighs 4 g and comes three to a pack. Step up to 9.5 cm and you're looking at 7 g, with two in the pack. The 12.5 cm is 16 g, also supplied in pairs. Those are lure weights, not your finished casting weights once you've added a jighead or other hardware. Keep that in mind when matching the setup to your rod, especially if you're using a lighter outfit.
As a starting point, the smaller profile makes sense when you're exploring perch swims or trying to match little baitfish. The middle size gives you a useful step up without going straight to the biggest mouthful here, while the 12.5 cm offers a more substantial target for pike and zander presentations. None of those is a species rule. Perch can have properly ambitious appetites, and pike will happily grab small lures. Choose around the prey size, water conditions and tackle you've brought, not a neat label saying which fish is allowed to eat it.
Rigging flexibility is another proper plus. You can fish the Bullteez on a regular jighead or a shallow rig, and there are slots in both the back and belly for an offset hook. On a fairly clean bottom, an exposed jig hook is a straightforward place to start. Around weed and awkward cover, an appropriately fitted offset setup can reduce the amount of greenery you bring back. It won't make the lure snag-proof, mind. You still need to judge where you're casting and leave enough hook gape for a decent chance of connecting.
Weight choice deserves more thought than it often gets. Chucking on a heavy head makes reaching depth easier, but it can also have you winding faster than intended just to keep the lure clear of the bottom. Start with enough weight to maintain useful contact and reach the water you want to fish, then adjust. Flow, wind and depth all change the answer. If you're exploring shallow margins, a suitably light arrangement can help you keep the shad travelling above the rubbish rather than repeatedly ploughing into it.
The realistic eyes and hand-painted colour details give it a tidy baitfish look. Nice touches, absolutely, but don't let the paint job do all your thinking. A natural-looking colour is a sensible starting choice in clear water; a more visible option can be useful when visibility drops. Neither is a guarantee. Putting the lure at a useful depth, keeping it mounted straight and covering likely holding areas will usually deserve your attention before another colour swap. It's easy to spend bite-time rummaging through a lure box instead of actually fishing.
The Bullteez makes most sense for someone happy to build a presentation, rather than someone wanting to clip on a finished lure and bosh it out. You'll need suitable hooks, sensible tackle and predator-safe handling kit. Where pike are a realistic possibility, use an appropriate bite-resistant trace even if perch are the target. Carry spare bodies too: soft tails and teeth aren't lifelong mates. With those basics sorted, this is an appealing option for slowing down, changing rigs to suit the swim and keeping your lure fishing where it matters.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Lure type
- Freshwater soft paddle-tail shad
- 7.5 cm version
- 4 g; three lures per pack
- 9.5 cm version
- 7 g; two lures per pack
- 12.5 cm version
- 16 g; two lures per pack
- Rigging
- Back and belly offset-hook slots; suitable for shallow rigs and regular jigheads
- Finish
- Realistic eyes and hand-painted colour details
Specs checked with Westin, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Keep the lure moving, not motoring
The main draw is its intended low-speed action. That lets you explore a likely holding area more deliberately instead of winding a shad straight past it.
Getting that right depends on the whole setup. A suitable hook, sensible rig weight and a straight-mounted body matter more than simply choosing the brightest colour.
Shape and setup
Closer look: a soft shad with room to adapt
You're buying a freshwater soft lure built around a paddle tail and a narrow tail wrist. The intended wriggle and belly flash at low speed are the main reasons to choose it. Realistic eyes and hand-painted details add visual appeal, but the useful question is whether the body size and rig suit the water in front of you.
Mount it straight whichever rig you choose. A twisted body can spoil the presentation, and an oversized hook can restrict movement. With an offset hook, check that the point can clear the body when it compresses. Those back and belly slots help accommodate the hook; they don't excuse a poor fit.
Worth knowing. The listed 4 g, 7 g and 16 g weights are for the lures themselves. Add the jighead or other rig hardware when checking your finished setup against your rod's casting range.
Matching the swim
Who it suits: anglers who like controlling the presentation
If you enjoy exploring depth changes, working alongside weed edges or bringing a lure steadily past cover, the Bullteez fits that way of fishing nicely. Its low-speed design gives you a reason to try the simple retrieve first. Find the right depth, keep contact and resist adding frantic rod work just for the sake of it.
It's also a sensible option for building a small selection around different baitfish profiles. You can change size and rig without learning a completely different lure style. Just don't assume the smallest version rules pike out: tackle and trace choice still need to account for what might grab it.
It's less handy if rigging feels like unnecessary faff or you want something highly resistant to repeated tooth damage. A ready-rigged lure saves initial setup, while a hard lure avoids torn soft tails. Here, the trade-off is a supple body and flexible rigging, with replacement bodies part of the deal.
Before you tie one on
FAQs in full: sizes, hooks and retrieve
Which size should you buy? Start with the baitfish profile you want to show and the tackle you're using. Here, 7.5 cm means 4 g and three bodies per pack; 9.5 cm means 7 g and two; 12.5 cm means 16 g and two. A bigger lure isn't automatically better for coloured water, nor is a small one only for small predators.
Can it be fished weedless? Yes, using a suitable offset hook with the back and belly slots. Think snag-resistant rather than invincible. Hook gape, body clearance and point position all matter, and thick weed can still collect around your line or rig. A regular jighead remains the simple choice where an exposed hook isn't a nuisance.
How should you retrieve it? Begin with a steady wind and get the running depth sorted before complicating things. Then try pauses or gentle lifts if needed, remembering that a weighted rig will sink during a pause. In shallow water, that can put it straight into weed. In deeper water, a controlled drop can help you explore another part of the swim.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Low-speed action suits a controlled, unhurried retrieve.
- Back and belly slots give offset hooks somewhere to sit.
- Can be matched with regular jigheads or shallow rigs.
- Three useful sizes for adjusting your lure profile.
Worth knowing
- Needs a suitable hook and rig choice before it's ready to fish.
- Soft bodies and slender tails can suffer damage from predator teeth.
- Only two replacement bodies per pack in the 9.5 cm and 12.5 cm sizes.
Want one?
Add it to your Wanted list or join a Group Buy — shops see anonymous totals only.
Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What sizes and pack quantities are covered here?
What sizes and pack quantities are covered here?
The 7.5 cm lure weighs 4 g and comes three per pack. The 9.5 cm weighs 7 g and the 12.5 cm weighs 16 g, with two per pack in each of those sizes.
02Can you rig the Bullteez Shad weedless?
Can you rig the Bullteez Shad weedless?
Yes. Its back and belly slots accommodate an offset hook for a more snag-resistant presentation. Choose enough hook gape for the body to compress; it won't make the lure completely snag-proof.
03What's a sensible starting retrieve?
What's a sensible starting retrieve?
Start with a steady, slow wind, then adjust your weight and retrieve to keep it at the required depth. It's designed to wriggle and flash its belly at low speed, so you don't need to begin by burning it back.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking choice for taking things steadily. The strongest reasons to choose it are low-speed action suits a controlled, unhurried retrieve. and back and belly slots give offset hooks somewhere to sit.; the main trade-off is needs a suitable hook and rig choice before it's ready to fish..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Low-speed action suits a controlled, unhurried retrieve.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Predator anglers working swims slowly: Its intended low-speed movement suits steady retrieves and deliberate coverage of likely holding spots.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “Needs a suitable hook and rig choice before it's ready to fish.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Westin Bullteez Shad
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Westin Bullteez Shad here. Be the first and get the score started.
Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Westin Bullteez Shad. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
