Photos: Westin · supplied retailer imagery
Predator lures · Soft shads · Our take
Westin Ricky the Roach Shadtail
Range overview: 7, 10, 14 and 18 cm
A roach-shaped soft lure with an easy-working tail, rolling body action and sizes that stretch from perch-friendly snacks to proper pike meals. Just mind the jump in weight as you go bigger.
- Freshwater soft lure with an easy-action shad tail.
- Slim body designed for belly flash, with a tight rolling action.
- Realistic eyes and hand-painted colour detailing.
- 7 and 10 cm versions contain two lures; 14 and 18 cm versions contain one.
Make sure it’s the right one. Westin Ricky the Roach Shadtail, product code P013. This review covers the soft shadtail range, rather than one particular size or colour.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A well-detailed, versatile shad range whose strongest appeal is combining a convincing prey shape with uncomplicated movement; size choice and soft-lure wear are the main caveats.
- Product Quality8.9/10
- Performance9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.6/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Perch and zander anglers choosing the smaller sizes. The 7 and 10 cm versions offer manageable baitfish presentations for suitably matched jigging outfits.
- Pike anglers fishing a substantial prey profile. The larger versions put a proper mouthful in the swim, with tail movement and body roll rather than intricate rod work.
Maybe skip if
- Light-rod anglers eyeing up the biggest version. An 85 g lure plus rigging is a different proposition from a little perch shad.
- Anglers wanting tooth-proof durability. This is a soft lure, so pike teeth can damage the body or remove the working tail.
The lowdown
Introducing the Westin Ricky the Roach Shadtail
A roach-shaped soft lure with an easy-working tail, rolling body action and sizes that stretch from perch-friendly snacks to proper pike meals. Just mind the jump in weight as you go bigger.
- Freshwater soft lure with an easy-action shad tail.
- Slim body designed for belly flash, with a tight rolling action.
- Realistic eyes and hand-painted colour detailing.
- 7 and 10 cm versions contain two lures; 14 and 18 cm versions contain one.
Quick verdict
A useful shad, provided you pick the right size
Ricky the Roach has plenty going for it: a believable baitfish profile, easy-action shad tail and a rolling body designed to show some belly flash. It’s a tidy option for anglers who want to work a convincing prey shape without loads of rod-tip faff.
Choose by target fish and tackle, not just by looks. The smaller versions suit lighter predator work; the 18 cm weighs 85 g before you add any rigging. Bigger sizes also come singly, so losing one hurts that bit more.
A well-detailed, versatile shad range whose strongest appeal is combining a convincing prey shape with uncomplicated movement; size choice and soft-lure wear are the main caveats.
- Product Quality
- 8.9/10
- Performance
- 9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.6/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8/10
Realistic eyes and hand-painted detailing give it a well-finished appearance, though the soft body remains vulnerable to teeth.
The easy-action tail and tight body roll offer useful movement for straightforward shad presentations.
The prey profile and size options help match the presentation to feeding opportunities, without replacing location and depth control.
A simple retrieve is a sensible starting point, but straight rigging and appropriate tackle still matter.
The smaller two-lure packs offer a spare, while single-lure larger packs and potential tooth damage temper the value appeal.
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 Ricky the Roach Shadtail (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 Ricky the Roach Shadtail
Westin’s Ricky the Roach Shadtail is aimed squarely at predators looking for a fish-shaped dinner. It’s a freshwater soft lure with a roach profile, realistic eyes and hand-painted colour detailing, but the attraction isn’t just a pretty face. An easy-action shad tail supplies the movement, while the slim body is designed to roll and show some belly flash. That gives you a combination of silhouette, vibration and changing reflections rather than relying on colour alone. If you like fishing a soft shad with a straightforward wind, this is very much in your lane.
The first thing to get straight is that Ricky covers quite a spread of sizes. The 7 cm version weighs 6 g, the 10 cm weighs 14 g, the 14 cm weighs 42 g and the 18 cm weighs 85 g. That’s not a tiny difference once you’re choosing a rod or adding a weighted head. Think of the range as several different fishing jobs wearing the same jacket. A little perch outfit and a heavier pike outfit might both have a place for Ricky, but they won’t want the same one.
For perch and zander work, the smaller versions are the obvious starting point. You can build the presentation around the depth, flow and size of the baitfish rather than chucking a huge meal at everything. A correctly matched jig head lets you explore different layers and work along features such as drop-offs, bridge approaches and the outside of weedbeds. Keep the body straight when rigging it, mate. A kinked shad can track awkwardly, and that undermines the action you bought it for. Check it in the water beside you before sending it across the swim.
Move up to the 14 or 18 cm and you’re into a more substantial pike presentation. That broader target can make sense where predators are feeding on decent-sized prey, or when you deliberately want to offer a bigger mouthful. Don’t confuse bigger with automatically better, though. A pike can take a small shad, and a large lure doesn’t come with a PB attached. More importantly, check your rod’s casting range against the whole rigged weight. The 18 cm is already 85 g before any extra hardware goes on. That needs a properly matched outfit.
The retrieve needn’t be a circus act. Start with a steady wind and use the first few casts to work out how speed and rigging affect the running depth. The tail and rolling body provide the movement; your job is to put them where a fish might intercept them. Controlled pauses and gentle lifts give you other options, especially when working closer to the bottom. Stay in touch as it drops without hauling it straight back up. Takes aren’t always a savage whack, so watch for the line stopping early or moving unexpectedly.
Season and water conditions should guide the approach rather than dictate a magic recipe. In colder water, a slower presentation near likely holding areas can be a sensible starting point, provided the lure still moves properly. In warmer conditions, you might cover more water and explore higher in the swim. Clear water gives the realistic finish more opportunity to be seen; in coloured water, contrast and fishing close enough to a predator become especially useful considerations. None of that makes one colour unbeatable. Depth, location and control still deserve your attention before another rummage through the lure box.
There are practical trade-offs, too. You get two lures in the 7 and 10 cm packs, but only one in the 14 and 18 cm sizes. A lost tail or snagged lure therefore leaves you without a pack spare in the bigger options. Soft material also means tooth damage is part of the deal, however smart the lure looks. Use a suitable wire trace wherever pike are a realistic possibility, carry proper unhooking gear and check everything after contact with a fish. Ricky makes most sense as a well-matched baitfish presentation, not a shortcut around the basics.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Product code
- P013
- Type
- Freshwater soft shadtail lure
- 7 cm version
- 6 g; two lures per pack
- 10 cm version
- 14 g; two lures per pack
- 14 cm version
- 42 g; one lure per pack
- 18 cm version
- 85 g; one lure per pack
Specs checked with Westin, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
One name, very different jobs
The useful bit here is the spread of sizes. A 7 cm Ricky and an 18 cm Ricky share a design, but they’re not interchangeable choices for the same outfit.
Match the lure to the baitfish, depth and casting capacity first. Then sort the colour. A cracking paint job won’t rescue a shad that’s fishing miles above the predators.
Shape and movement
A roach profile with more than a wagging tail
The easy-action shad tail is only part of the appeal. Ricky also has a tight rolling body action, with its slim shape designed to expose some belly flash as it moves. That changing view gives a following predator something more than a flat silhouette.
Realistic eyes and hand-painted detailing round out the baitfish look. It comes in blister packaging, but the useful buying decision is still size first: choose a profile and weight that your tackle can present properly, then pick a finish for the conditions.
Worth knowing. The 42 g and 85 g figures for the larger versions are lure weights. Allow for your rigging as well when checking the casting load, and don’t push a light rod beyond its rated range.
Picking your presentation
For anglers who like to keep the retrieve simple
This is a good fit if you’d rather concentrate on depth and location than constantly twitch the rod tip. Start with a steady retrieve, establish what the lure is doing, then add pauses or lifts deliberately. That’s less faff than changing everything on every cast.
Smaller sizes are the more approachable route for lighter predator outfits. The bigger pair suit anglers already equipped for heavier pike lures. Around thick weed or snaggy ground, think carefully about hook exposure and rig choice; a soft body alone doesn’t make a lure snag-proof.
Before you cast
Size, rigging and retrieves sorted
Which size should you buy? Use the 7 and 10 cm as starting points for smaller baitfish presentations, with the 14 and 18 cm for a bigger meal. Target species helps narrow it down, but available prey and tackle capacity matter too. Those are starting points, not strict species boundaries.
How should you fish it? Try a steady wind first and check the action in the margins. Then adjust speed, pauses and rigging to reach the layer you want. Keep an eye on the line during the drop, particularly when fishing around the bottom.
What weight should your rod handle? The complete rigged lure, not just the soft body. Add your chosen jig head or other hardware to the listed lure weight. Hook size needs to suit the body too: rig it straight and avoid crowding the working tail.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Baitfish profile combines visual detail with rolling movement.
- Easy-action tail suits straightforward retrieve styles.
- Size range covers lighter predator fishing through to substantial pike presentations.
- Two lures per pack in the 7 and 10 cm sizes.
Worth knowing
- The 18 cm version needs tackle suited to its substantial weight.
- Larger sizes come singly, leaving no spare in the pack.
- Soft bodies and tails are vulnerable to tooth damage.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Which size should I choose?
Which size should I choose?
Start with the 7 or 10 cm for lighter perch and zander work, and consider the 14 or 18 cm for a larger pike presentation. Match local prey size and your rod’s casting range rather than treating those suggestions as hard rules.
02How should I retrieve it?
How should I retrieve it?
Start with a steady wind that keeps the tail working at your chosen depth. Mix in controlled pauses or gentle lifts, watching the line as it sinks. Check its movement beside the bank before casting.
03Do the listed weights include my jig head?
Do the listed weights include my jig head?
Treat the listed figures as lure weights and add the weight of your chosen head, hooks and other rigging when checking the total casting load.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a useful shad, provided you pick the right size. The strongest reasons to choose it are baitfish profile combines visual detail with rolling movement. and easy-action tail suits straightforward retrieve styles.; the main trade-off is the 18 cm version needs tackle suited to its substantial weight..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Baitfish profile combines visual detail with rolling movement.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Perch and zander anglers choosing the smaller sizes: The 7 and 10 cm versions offer manageable baitfish presentations for suitably matched jigging outfits.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 18 cm version needs tackle suited to its substantial weight.”
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
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