If you wait for 5 or 6 leaves per branch, pinch out the growth tip. This will force new branches to form on that branch, thus more figs. The tree goes into survival mode. It MUST produce more fruit to keep it's kind alive on this earth. Even here in an ideal fig climate, I pinch for more fruit. I also pinch to make more branches for cuttings.

Thin to 3-5 suckers and pull others as they form. The plant will set less figs but more will ripen due to the focused energy to the remaining growths, rather than division caused by branching.

If I leave my fig tree alone it will produce more figs than it can ripen. I need to set a date when figs must be pluck so that the others ripen in time. By September 14th my tree does not get enough light to produce figs. I do not pinch to get more figs. However pinching may cause more leaves for food production as long as I pinch the extra figs also.

Thanks to Suzi, hoosierbanana and Steve Z for comments. I will thin some suckers, pinch some leaves and hope for some fig growth. Two years without figs would be too much. Thanks again.

Berrysalesman,
i would like to add if your in one of the colder area's such as mine after
pinching and around that point of pinching you may see more branching develop there.
I like to pinch those off as well because here in our area the figs that will come on to those newly formed branches will not have time to ripen and be a waste of plants energy going into
cold season.

By taking those new starts off right away it helps the pinched branch concentrate
on fruiting and not so much vegetative growth.

Martin