Shimano Butterfly Jigs Versus Williamson Speed Jigs, Which One is the Best for Fishing?

You're headed out on the ocean for some bottom fishing. You're thinking of how great it would be to let your jigs down to the bottom and hook into a nice red snapper or gag grouper. That sure sounds good for dinner, doesn't it? So, you're standing in the tackle store, puzzled at whether you should buy the Shimano Butterfly jig or the Williamson Speed jig. Here's a comparison you should read before deciding which to fill your tackle box with.

Shimano Butterfly jigs come in three shapes - regular, long, and flat-side. The regular jigs provide a vertical action while the long jigs are capable of horizontal actions. Flat-side butterflies were designed for angled jigging as done off drifting boats.

There are eight regular size jigs ranging in size from 3 ½ inches to 6 ½ inches. They can weigh from two ounces to nine ounces, and are available in several flashy colors. Shimano spokesmen state "through a 3-D shape design, the regular Butterfly jigs provide a spiral, darting action vertically through the water column."

The long Butterfly jigs can be bought as either 7 ½ or 9 inches long. They weigh either four ounces or seven ounces. These are also available in several flashy colors such as blue and silver, green and gold, or pink and silver.

A Shimano spokesman explains that the 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, 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."

The Shimano Butterfly Flat-Side jigs were designed to provide irresistible action from those anglers fishing from a drifting boat. The flat-side jigs fall to the bottom with a swinging motion and allow you to effectively jig at an angle. These jigs come in lengths of 4 ¾" to 8" and weigh between 4 and 12 ounces.

Shimano Butterfly jigs don't come cheap either. Expect to pay around $13 for the smallest flat-side jig, $15 for the smallest regular jig, and a whopping $20 for each of the smallest long Butterfly jigs!

With such a cost, it's heartbreaking to lose one of these jigs to a fish with teeth or having it get caught up on a wreck and break loose. Shimano Butterfly jigs may appear to be one-of-a-kind, but there's a nifty, more affordable competitor - Williamson Speed jigs!

Williamson is a name that is well recognized among saltwater fishermen worldwide. When it comes to jigging, Williamson makes two Speed jigs that will put your limit of fish in the box in no time. First, the Abyss Speed jig has a "pot belly" shape that will get your jig down to the bottom quickly. Their jigs also feature glow in the dark paints on the belly and gill plates to catch fish's attention. You can get Abyss jigs in sizes between 6 ½ to 8 ¼ inches and weights between 3 and 9 ounces.

Williamson Benthos Speed jigs have more of a diamond shape that let the jig have high-speed vertical drops. This is certainly helpful in waters where you are drifting rather fast. Their fluorescent colors will also get fish's attention. Furthermore, the Benthos jigs have more of a horizontal fall that the Abyss jig. That of course allows the jig to cover more of the water column. Sizes for the Benthos are 6 ½ to 8 ¼ inches and weights between 3 ½ and 9 ounces.

Both Shimano Butterfly Jigs and Williamson Speed Jigs have similar actions in the water that will definitely attract fish bites. However, Williamson jigs are a lot more affordable, with prices ranging from $10 for the biggest Benthos and Abyss jigs and come in consistent sizes and weights so you don't have to keep a written record of the particular sizes/weights you were using when you caught "the big ones."