The system features Shimano’s new Trevala rods, eight conventional and three spinning jigging models with actions designed so anglers are acutely aware of the irregular action of the Butterfly jigs.

Shimano offers 62 Butterfly jigs in the system, two styles in various colors and sizes. For reels, anglers can pair the Trevala rods up with Shimano’s new Torsa 16N or Trinidad 16N and 40N narrow-spool conventional reels, or larger size Stella and Sustain spinning reels. All these reels have high-speed retrieves and comfortable handles needed to work the jigs properly, and the power needed to move big fish.

Completing the system is Shimano’s new Butterfly Jig Storage Bag, with slots to store up to 40 jigs, Baysteel saltwater fishing multi-tools with features including a unique two-step split-ring opener, and Shimano’s new Leader Wheel Dispensers to organize the fluorocarbon leaders needed. Exclusively designed and developed for Shimano’s Butterfly Jig System, Owner Hooks offers its Dancing Stinger hooks in 1/0 up to 7/0 with Technora fabric loops, and 3/0 and 5/0 for wire loops.

“From its start in the early ’90’s, where anglers in Japan fished depths down to 500 feet with the first generation of super lines coupled with fluorocarbon shock leaders, Shimano’s product development staff has closely watched this revolutionary change in deep water jigging, “said Jeremy Sweet with Shimano. “Our counterparts at Shimano Japan created a new lure design we call the Butterfly jig, and combined with the right tackle, the complete system - rod, reel, line, leader and jig – increases sensitivity to detect bites and provides for more successful hooksets.”
Sweet adds that from field testing in U.S. waters, from amberjack, snapper, grouper and kingfish off the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast waters, tuna and stripers in the northeast, or off the West Coast for yellowtail, tuna, calico bass or white seabass, the Butterfly Jigging System has proven to have better fish catching percentages than those anglers using live bait. “Even fishing heavily-pressured area such as close in wrecks found off the Florida Keys, we’ve been able to hook and land numerous big amberjacks, groupers and cobia,” said Sweet, “while those drifting live bait near us struggled to get a hook-up.”
Trevala Series rods.

Lightweight, light action rods to optimize the performance of Butterfly jigs, anglers have their choice of 11 Trevala rods, all with TC4 construction. “By using our proven TC4 construction process, we’re able to offer an extremely slim blank design, and yet still achieve powerful blank strength,” notes Robby Gant, Shimano’s rod product manager. “The sensitivity from the wrapped graphite helps anglers feel every movement of the Butterfly jig and every movement of the fish, while the inner and outer wrapped T glass provides the needed durability from the direct fight with the fish.”

The Trevala series includes eight conventional rods – TVC-58MH, 60H, 66M, 66M2, 66MH2, 70L and 70ML, and three spinning models – TVS-66M, 70L, 70ML. The heavier action TVC-58MH and 60H feature Fuji Concept Alconite, while the other Trevala rods feature Fuji Concept Hardloy guides. All the Trevala rods have custom shaped EVA foregrip and reargrip for added comfort and balance while jigging, Fuji reel seats, and all the guides are wrapped with Gudebrod thread for added strength.

“With our goal of providing manageable tackle so that anglers can enjoy the experience of fighting the fish and not the equipment, the unique grips on the Trevala rods really help when it comes to all-day Butterfly jigging action,” said Gant. “It’s just simply easier to hold the rod to get the precise motion needed to work these jigs.”

Butterfly Jigs

The Shimano Butterfly jigs are available in two distinct styles - regular and long. The regular jig provided a vertical ‘walking the dog’ presentation, while the long jig, with its patented 3-D shape, provides a lure that is able to move horizontally at depths never before possible.

There are eight regular size jigs – from 3 1/2-inches to 6 1/2-inches and in two-ounce (55 grams) to nine-ounce (270 grams) weights. Colors offered included blue sardine/silver, green mackerel/silver, aji/silver, pink/silver, squid/silver and chartreuse/white. “Through a 3-D shape design, the regular Butterfly jigs provide a spiral, darting action vertically through the water column,” said Ted Sakai, product manager for Shimano’s Gear category.
The system also includes two long Butterfly jigs – 7 1/2- and 9-inches – in both four-ounce (120 grams) and seven-ounce (200 grams) weights. Each are offered in seven colors, including blue/silver, green/gold, natural/silver, pink/silver, full silver, chartreuse/white and squid/white.

The patented asymmetrical 3-D shape of the longer Butterfly jigs “provides a tremendous amount of side-to-side movement during the retrieve, and a unique roll-and-wobble action on the fall, “Sakai explains, “and the center of gravity of these jigs makes them dart long distances while retrieving, giving them horizontal action that’s common with surface lures. This action just drives fish into a reaction bite frenzy.”

With this extensive product line-up of rods, jigs, reels and gear, Shimano’s Butterfly Jigging System “is a major emphasis from us in the coming years,” notes Sweet. “It lets you fight fish more effectively rather than fighting the tackle, plus it takes you to a different level of awareness versus the jigging tackle currently available. By using the complete Butterfly Jigging System, we can provide anglers with a heightened sense of the true power of fighting a fish.”

Along with the tackle in Butterfly Jigging System, Shimano is offering a complete instructional program on how all the elements in the System come together. An informational brochure on the Butterfly Jigging System, including rigging and tackle recommendations, jigging technique instructions, details on all 62 Butterfly jigs, Trevala rod specifications, along with information on Shimano Gear for jigging is available from select Shimano tackle dealers, and also in PDF format on Shimano’s web site at www.shimano.com. An instructional DVD, featuring ESPN2’s ‘Spanish Fly’ fishing expert Jose Wejebe and putting into motion the details offered in the brochure, is also available. For more information, visit the Shimano web site, or call Shimano’s product support team at 877/577-0600 (6 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time).