Mind Over Matter - February 24, 2005 - There was a fella from West Paris went fishing the other day up at Mooselookmeguntic Lake with a Frenchman from down in Lewiston. These two fellas really didn't know each other too well but the West Paris fella thought that a day on the lake fishing would give him a chance to see what really makes a Frenchman tick.

They put their boat in the water just about daybreak and motored out a ways when the fella from West Paris shut the motor off completely and asked the Frenchman if he had a favorite place he liked to fish on this lake. Well, the French said he never been fishing on this lake and any place was just as good as the next he guessed.

The West Paris man started the motor again and headed for a favorite cove over on the north shore. Once they arrived, it didn't take the West Paris man long to wet a fly. Before the Frenchman could get his rod put together, the West Paris lad hooked a nice big brookie. Frenchy dropped everything and helped him net the fish.

The West Paris man removed the fly from the fishes mouth and tossed the fish over the side. "What you do you?" asked the Frenchman. "Why you let the fish go there you? It was a keeper I think."

The West Paris man didn't say much he just went back to fishing and fishing he did. Nearly every cast he caught a fish but kept none. The Frenchman had barely caught a fish and was getting frustrated.

On the very next cast, the man from West Paris hooked onto a lunker. It bent his rod nearly in two and he had all he could do to hang on. The battle lasted for quite some time and the Frenchman was anxiously awaiting with the net to assist in landing this monstrous fish. He also began to wonder if the West Paris man was going to let this fish go as well.

After several minutes, Frenchy netted the fish and the man from West Paris gently squeezed the fish with his left hand. When he did the Frenchman was amazed to see the fish calm right down and never wiggle again. The West Paris man removed the fly from the corner of the fish's mouth and then held the fish in both hands while at the same time pointing the fish directly at his face.

Frenchy was mesmerized by the actions of the West Paris man and stared intently as the West Paris man glared with brazen eyes into the eyes of the lake trout.

The West Paris man was well known around the western Maine area and in particular for his tic in his right eye. This was something the man had since he was a little boy. Some think it began right after he watched his father get pulled into the baling machine and die.

As the man from West Paris continued to stare into the eyes of the trout, Frenchy couldn't believe his own eyes. After several seconds, as the West Paris man held that fish and stared, the fish's right eye commenced to twitch just like the West Paris man's - in sync with it too.

Then as quickly as it all happened he threw the fish back in the water and returned to fishing. Frenchy began to quiz him about what had happened, "How did you make that fish's eye twitch just like your eye twitches and at the same time too?"

"Mind over matter," said the West Paris man.

Frenchy thought he knew what that meant. He figured it meant that because the fish had such a small brain, he could make him do whatever he wanted.

As both men continued to fish, Frenchy was thinking long and hard. Soon he hooked a pound and a half brook trout and landed it in the boat. He removed the hook and was contemplating whether to throw it back or not when he had a thought.

Maybe he could make this fish do whatever he wanted. So, he grabbed the fish, who wiggled and fought constantly, and began to stare at the fish. Frenchy was getting nervous and felt a bit foolish. He stared and stared at the fish and nothing seemed to be happening. He looked over at the West Paris man as if to ask for help.

The West Paris man said, "You need to be quiet and calm. Stare at the fish and look deep into his eyes. When you do the power of the mind will take over."

Frenchy took a deep breath, calmed himself and stared intently at the fish. Within seconds, Frenchy's mouth began to move just like the fishes trying to get air into its' gills.

By Tom Remington