Megabass Respect 73
The Shibukin Tiger is a unique, semi-aggressive colorway that originated with Megabass around 2009 and was re-released as a special item in their Respect Series on popular baits like the Vision Oneten, Pop-X, and Pop Max. Its aesthetic is a sophisticated take on a dark pattern, featuring a matte black finish across the back and most of the body. The defining characteristic is the gold tiger-stripe pattern that runs along the flanks, which provides a striking, yet subtle, reflective flash. This is complemented by a high-visibility, fluorescent orange belly that significantly enhances the lure’s presence when viewed from below. This combination of the low-flash matte black, the bold gold stripes, and the bright belly makes it a distinctive and highly collectible pattern that is rarely seen in Megabass’s standard line-up, guaranteeing its appeal among collectors.
This color is specifically designed to perform in challenging, high-pressure fishing environments where a completely natural pattern is ineffective, but too much flash is detrimental. The matte black reduces glare and makes the lure easier to silhouette against bright skies, while the fluorescent orange belly maintains visibility in low-light conditions like dawn, dusk, or under heavy cloud cover. The Shibukin Tiger is exceptionally effective in muddy or heavily stained water where its bold, contrasting features cut through the murk to draw attention. Due to its contrasting color scheme, it is often best worked with a stop-and-go or twitching retrieve—such as the darting action of a jerkbait—to maximize the flash of the gold stripes against the matte body, forcing a reaction bite from suspicious or pressured fish.