Shimano is promoting a jigging technique called "Butterfly Jigging" (www.shimano.com) and they're proposing a certain type of rod (their TC4).
It appears to me that the action for this type of fishing should be in the fast to very fast range and need not be graphite.
Has anyone tried this type of jigging and if so what type of rod did you use? In fact, does anyone have any recommendations for blanks to fit this bill?

This style of fishing originated mainly in Japan. I've got a few jigging rods from there, one of them a Shimano that I love. You really do want a graphite blank for this. You can use any sort of blank material, but the graphite is much more sensitive of course. More crisp on the action than fiberglas helps with hooksets. Plus the blanks tend to be lighter weight and more fun to use.

Mostly superbraid is used as it gives you a much thinner diameter letting you use lighter jigs and sink faster, as well as more sensitive.

I just built a jigging rod on the Lamiglas Tri-Flex Boat series blank, have to get back to you on the exact number. CGBT721LL I beleive, 15lb blank good for up to 30 lb power pro (per Lamiglas). I also have a heavier blank, but it won't be done for a couple of months as my stuff is relocating to Japan right now.

Phil

There's a post here, as well as on Noreast.com. Don't buy into the hype, I know for a fact in the North East regular jigs outfished the entire Butt jigging system hands down.

Dont buy the shimano ones. Too expensive and they are just copying all the jigs from the japan claiming they have something new. Check out river 2 sea knife and rock jigs. Much cheaper than shimano. Used them in Florida there wasnt any difference between the shimano ones.

I'm not sure how much "hype" there is about this "system". I don't think its fair to say that they were copying the jigs from Japan. Shimano's a Japanese company. They simply introduced a version of something they have sold in Japan for years, and for the most part, is new to the U.S. It's a completely different style of fishing than anything else I've done, Shimano just happens to be the first company I've really noticed that's selling a rod/reel matched to that type of fishing in the U.S. I think all the advertising spent on the Butterfly system may actually help out custom rod guys, as people get introduced to this style of jigging in general, they'll probably want a custom rod to get the job done.

The jigs: up to personal preference. I'm not a big fan of Shimano's jigs although I've caught fish on them. I REALLY like the Yozuri Hydro-metal jigs, although they are a bit pricey, I've caught tons of fish on them. Grouper, AJ's, a 12lb hog snapper, triggerfish, ribbonfish tear them up in Japan, the list goes on and on. The sea knife jigs look pretty good too. Definitely check out the various options for jigs, Bass Pro has several models now that are fairly inexpensive.

I prefer a fast action rod, probably medium power. There's no right or wrong answers, buy a couple different types of jigs, find out what you like, and go from there. A lot of this stuff is personal preference. Different jigs do different things. Some of them are designed to flutter on the fall and induce hits (had lots of AJ's hit on the drop). Some are designed not to flutter, to sink straight down like a rock to get you deep quick and you have to give them action on the way up. Some are meant to be worked really quickly.

P.S. After reviewing prices on the butterfly jigs, I'd go with something else as well. The Yozuri's are great and 25% the price.

Tight lines.
Phil