We have a lovely, large Black Mission tree  - probably over 60 years, and with a 55" girth of the trunk near the base - but through poor pruning over the years, all its branches start way up - at least 25' from the ground. A few branches hang down near the ground, but only squirrels and birds are able to reach up where there is most of the  fruit. Some of these branches are dying. Here is a photo on picasaweb 

Sorry your pic did not show up.

http://picasaweb.google.com/art.liberman/OldFigTree?feat=email#

If it was me, I would chop all the dead growth off and start to bring it closer to the ground, this may force many suckers and bottom growth up and out. Also, Fig trees grow very very quick, you could always airlayer or else root a few of these twigs and then you can have another tree within a years time eating wonderful figs.  Ciao

You might try cutting n of the main branches down to 6-8' next spring just after you see new growth and see if it will regenerate new shoots at that point. If it works, then do the same with the other main branches on a following season.

Thanks for the suggestions!. When I've cut back dead branches to the trunk before, there's been no sign of any regrowth happening - but those were dead/dying branches and what you are suggesting is cutting back some of the main trunk itself. So, I wonder about where to make the cut...are there any markers along the trunk of a fig tree to suggest where a budding branch might emerge? Would applying some growth hormone to the are of the cut back trunk induce growth at that point? Has anyone had some luck  grafting branches on to a large trunk section?

You can cut it down to about 4 ft off the ground and then graft it, just like this photo from Axier.

That is essentially what I was suggesting (without the grafting), but only ding one main limb at a time.

When the limb is that large, there are no markers or signs about where to cut. If you do it when it is actively growing, it will be disposed to push new growth at the cut point. If it is dormant, it may be more disposed to "abandon" that branch in favor of the remaining ones - is my thinking.