Sounds like we're almost neighbors.
You should stop by for a cup of coffee and to talk figs.

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr8/boizeau/brunswick.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful:

For me in zone 5 i pinch off all the breba this assures me of a late summer fall crop to ripen. I prune my branches if tree needs it after tree is spent of figs.

I agree with Dieseler, let the tree grow, then around June-ish do a summer prune to provide vigor to the already present main crop along with a Hermans method of pinching back.

I tried to pinch back on one of my trees but it was so agreesive that it just forked the pinched region. I may use this method to shape the tree like a shore lolli-pop.

Here is a book that has suited me well and encourged me to try different shapes on my trees. It also denotes the different between pruning and shaping. For me, both are important. It talks about the different shapes of trees, the fan, vase, etc, and the pruning to get there. It will say: year one, do this, year two do this.

I would post some examples of the inside, but I dont want to get trouble! Very good book. I also have the sister version that is about diseases and pests.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon Link to book

Loslunas said it much better than i .
Here is a nice illustration to look at it has helped me years past and it works well in my zone .
htpp://www.tharfield.co.nz/varities/figgrowing.htm

Thanks for the comments, all. That's what I like about the fig forum, everyone pipes up and offers their advice & experience!

Loslunas - I actually have that book! I dont think it answers my specific question, but it IS a great book.

Since my goal here is to maximize brebas, I think I'll leave on most branches until the brebas ripen, then prune. That's assuming that brebas grow this year.
I may do a test of removing some terminal buds, and leaving others on, & see which work out better.

I would use the book for pruning tips for example like apples that are more tip bearears, or the non-tip bearers. Sounds close to main crop and brebas! I agree on the test branch, couldnt hurt. Let me know if you need anything eukofios.

eukofios,

You are in (P)NW zone 8 - a good place for fig breba.
For example, the Desert King (a breba only fig), is said
to do exceptionally good there - DO get one - I can supply
a couple twigs off my specimen (UCD.85), you pay postage.

I am no pruning expert (though I know a thing, or 2).
When I had figs in-ground - on paper, I had come up
with a schem to keep them in a managble size, mostly
for easier winter protection/covering. They were in
a BUSH form (plenty of suckers each year). The idea was
to keep old shoots no longer than 3-5 years (before
they get out of hand), and have newer shoots constanly
and GRADUALLY replacing them. I had submitted this idea
to this FF. Our fig Dr. tapla (Al), did respond, quoting
that this was a classical way to keep plant bushes
re-junivated. Since then, I needed to destroy all my
inground figs (they are all in pots now), and I never
really practiced what I had in mind.

Also, in balmy SD; Jon had mentioned that he prunes some
of his inground fig trees down to ~18 inches. Not sure
if this is good for a SHORT season location
- definitly not for breba.

I mis-read the original post. Yes, I agree with Georgi for MAX brebas, not main crop! I was thinking main crop. Sorry!

Speaking of Desert king, it does do very well in the Northwest. The trees get fairly large though. It has one pest that can be a problem:
Bald Faced Hornets like the ripe fruit.

{{gwi:755578}}

I always wondered if the Tasmaian Devil really likes figs.
Sorry, I cannot produce any life pictures of this critter.
Any of you fig-nuts (down-under in Aussie-Land) can shed some more info?

A recent image (picture) was illegally hijaked
(and rotated 90 degree clocklwise) from:
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/grapeipm/images/Bald%20Faced%20Hornet_A.jpg

One year i had a big problem with wasp covering my tree's as to the point i could not pick the ripe figs and i hosed them down.
I should have taken pictures and posted.
Its nice to see when a person takes an actual picture from their yard or greenhouse instead of obtaining them over the internet from someone elses site.

dieseler;
This NOT the first and only occurence...
Remember that picture of the Violet de Bordeaux fig fruit
from Elible Landscaping that suddendly/misteriously vanished?

Yes i remember, i have bought several types of figs from their nursery and visited the site many times and remember the VdB picture and mentioning it at the time that the picture looked familar to me. It just so happened i had bought the VdB from EL during that time frame. I would not care for someone to take my pictures and post without permission if that was the case here.I will hopefully post pictures of mt VdB in the coming season along with my others in stored in garage if they make it thru this winter, i looked at the hardy chicago and el sals today under the old bed sheets and they look normal so far. We had that 1 good cold week where it was below zero and almost broke a record when it went to minus 21 one of those nights, it did get as cold as plus 8 in garage for that week and stood below 10 above zero for the whole week, and good old fashion winter, oddly enough today we almost broke a record for warmth at 61 , 63 is the record and still stands. Tonight 1 TO 3 inches of rain and snow flurries by the end of the week.Old saying if you dont like the weather in chicago wait a few days it will change sure makes sense.