Has anyone used the Shimano Butterfly Jigs. I've been hearing a lot about them. They're fairly pricey (@$20), but may be worth it if they work as well as all the hype.

We should see some moderation in price this year, a lot of companies are coming out with competing products.

I have no idea how they work though, I've never used one.

As pete said there are a lot of competing products. If you can catch SBFT with them they are going in my box .

Well.....school bluefin is exactly what I had in mind. They say the jig is designed for "deep water." What does that mean exactly....60' 80'.

The hook setup (at the nose of the lure) looks intriguing, and I can see why that setup, with the split ring connection, would give the lure good action. I expect that SPRO (swimming jig) and Luhr Jenson (crippled herring) could be adapted to perform similarly.

As pete said there are a lot of competing products. If you can catch SBFT with them they are going in my box .

Once of Northeast Angling's first new episode this year was catching SBFT somewhere off of Pt Judith, RI. I still have the episode taped on my DVR. They were catching fish on a variety of lures/plugs, once of which was a butterfly jig. They even had an underwater shot of how Rich T was fishing it. He'd cast out and with his rod pointing down to the water from front of boat, snap his rod forward and repeat fast. Some amazing video in that episode. I also imagine it would work well dropping to bottom and a fast drift and simply jigging up/down.

The hook is a stinger hook in essence, and is hung from the top of the jig instead of the bottom. The butterfly jigs are for deep water jigging in the thermocline(80-120 feet down) offshore. They weigh 4-8 ounces and are long and slender, but extremely expensive. Yes they are effective, I caught quite a few yellowfin and albacore in the canyons this year using them. One of the most effective techniques was to "dead stick" them, engaging the reel in strike postion, dropping the jig down to the thermocline, and putting the line into the rigger clips with the rigger on the up tide side in the out position. We would then put our 3 balloon baits out in the normal stagger position down tide and well away from the vessel. I also had success jigging straight up and down or just reeling in short, fast spurts. Those stinger hooks can be purchased pre rigged, or you can make your own with 500 pound kevlar cord and shrink wrap. You can use them with bottom hooks or without, just as effective. In my opinion these jigs are really only for offshore, larger fish. I thin kyou could use any make of jig in that style(vertical, narrow body) with a stinger attached and do well. I also used the braid slammer jigs, changing out the treble to a VMC needlepoint, and attaching a Gamakatsu pre tied stinger in 8/0.(10.99 a pack for two)

If you really want a great inshore SBFT jig, my money is on PT Jude tins. Those fish really hammered them this summer, with my two most productive styles being the Po- JEE, and the needlefish imitator. The 1 1/2 ounce po jee, as well as the 3 ounce, had just the right movement and fall to really produce on those fast moving critters. Me and a buddy put a 37 inch 32 pounder in the box, and released 9 others on our best day, all between 28-31 inches(15-23 pounds) and all of them were taken on the Pt. Jude Tins. At 6 bucks a whack , amuch more effective and cost effective lure imho. I was using a 7' M action Tica with a Shimano sustain 4000 loaded with 30 pound braid and a 15 pound shot of floro tied directly to the jig. I would trust my day of fishing entirely to that set up with those jigs!!!

here's a six page read on them
http://www.noreast.com/discussion/ViewTopic.cfm?page=1&startrow=1&topic_ID=39564&search=service&searchString=tuna%20killers%20or%20wallet%20killer s&searchNotString=&SearchMode=all&SearchNotMode=all&searchFromDate=%7Bts%20%272005%2D11%2D11%2019%3A24 %3A34%27%7D&SearchUpToDate=%7Bts%20%272006%2D02%2D09%2019%3A24 %3A34%27%7D

Question: How does even an 8 oz jig get down 80 to 120 feet for the thermocline? 12-18 oz jigs are regularly used for cod in just 100 feet of water and with any current it's still hard to get bottom. Am I missing something?

Im not going to the bottom, only to 80-100 feet or so. I use a Shimano Tiagra 30 2 speed reel loaded with 65 pound power pro, and a top shot of flourocarbon 60 pound leader, again tied directly to the jig. These jigs have a rapid descent, and I have never needed to go heavier out there, ever.
When I codfish, I use 9 ounce nowegians with no problems in 150-180 feet, and can hold the bottom except on the moon tides, or when on Georges Bank and the currents roaring. The heaviest jig I carry is a 17 ounce, for those rare days when nothing else will hit the bottom. The only place heavier jigs are needed is on a crowded party boat, where you cant dump a little extra line without getting tangled in the other lines.

Question: How does even an 8 oz jig get down 80 to 120 feet for the thermocline? 12-18 oz jigs are regularly used for cod in just 100 feet of water and with any current it's still hard to get bottom. Am I missing something?

Check out the web page for shimano, or the discussion posted on Noreast, and scroll down to the weights of these jigs if you don't believe me. Or better yet, get out of the sweet water and out into the real salt, 100 miles from shore. Your own experience is worth way more than my humble opinions.

I had heard these work fantastic last tuna season but had trouble getting my paws on a few. I have not used one yet but I put in an order for a bunch of them for this season. This looks like an exciting way to fish esp when they get picky.

PS I use 4-5 oz with 30# PP in 110' of water and hold bottom for fluke without problems...unless the tide is really honking, then I put the boat in reverse and hold position with the motor. Thin braid is the key to lighter weights + it is a lot more fun to fish with. Mono is stone-age for fishing deep water, it is like fishing with big rubber band.

All butterfly jigs are, from what i have gathered, are fancy knife jigs, which have been available in japan for years, from companies like River2Sea, Seven Seas, and others for less money. 20 dollars really isn't bad either. Custom plugs cost that or more, and are more prone to being lost.