Fishbrain is a trick/combo created by a member of the Spin Doctors named Paul Escolar (a.k.a. the now Spikeyless Freak, previously the Spikey Haired Freak). Like Kwijibo, this is a pop-up trick; it is also very, very difficult to learn. The cool thing about Fishbrain is that it is done in front of you, and has three hops. This is probably my favorite trick...too bad I still can't do it after practicing it for almost a month now. Geez, it must be me...

Note - you may need a larger string gap for this trick if the yo-yo  continually catches somewhere between Steps 10 to 13.

Step 1

First start in the standard split bottom mount.

Step 2

You are now going to start a chain reaction. Move your left hand toward you and over your right hand, as shown by the blue arrows.

Step 3

You should be in the formation shown to the left. Now you are going to do sort of an "over-pass" -- which is like an underpass except it is going to go over your right hand. You don't want any part of your left hand touching the right hand.

Step 4

Continue moving your left hand completely over your right hand...

Step 5

You should be in the position to the left. You will now pull your left hand back quickly, indicated by the blue arrows. Your left hand pointer finger will hit both the red and the back string between the right hand and the yoyo. It is important to pay attention to the red string because the yo-yo is going to land on it eventually.

Step 6

As you pull back quickly from the previous step, continue doing so until it makes the yo-yo pop-up in the direction of the orange arrows.

Step 7

As the yo-yo continues in the direction of the orange arrows, move your left hand so that it is on the same horizontal plane as your right hand.

Step 8

You should now be in this position in the split second before the yo-yo falls onto the red string. It falls ONLY on the red string. Once it does, proceed to the next step.

Step 9

Here is the hold you should be in now. It is pretty confusing, but you are probably in the right position if you have the correct number of string segments between your hands and yo-yo.

Step 10

Now, you are going to give everything a nice, soft toss up into the air. You need to do this very smoothly or else the yo-yo will catch sometime in the next few steps. Remember to pop the yo-yo in the air by moving both hands up and not pulling apart as indicated by the blue arrows.

Step 11

The next three steps are very tricky. You essentially switch hands. Your right hand must go under your left hand. If not, you will end up with a mess of strings. Since this move must be done very fast, it is sometimes actually hard to coordinate your hands so the correct one goes under each other -- just keep practicing until you can control your hands correctly.

Step 12

This is a continuation of the above step. Continue switching your hands' places. Your left hand pointer finger is going to catch the string segment coming from the right hand to the yo-yo.

Step 13

You should be in this position for a split second. The yo-yo will fall on the red string. Straighten out your hands so they are horizontal if they aren't already. When you land the yo-yo on the string, you will be in the Mondial position!

Step 14: Mondial

Now that you are in a horizontal position, toss the yo-yo up vertically. Do not try to pull the strings horizontally to pop the yo-yo up; it usually doesn't work.

Step 15: Mondial

As the yo-yo is traveling up, your hands are going to switch places. Your right hand will go over your left hand (this may get trickier than you think because you must do it FAST). Move your hands in the direction of the blue arrows as the yo-yo travels upwards.  It may be wise to keep an eye on the red string.

Step 16: Mondial

Continue switching positions.... your right hand pointer finger is going to catch the red string.

Step 17: Mondial

If you caught the red string with your right hand finger, you should be in this position. The yo-yo is going to fall on the red string segment between the hands, as indicated by the orange arrow.  Make your hands horizontal from each other if they aren't already.

Step 18: Mondial

The yo-yo should land on the red string.

Step 19

You are now in a split bottom mount. You are once again going to pop the yo-yo into the air. This time it is okay to pull your hands apart to pop it. You can just toss everything up if you want too. As you pull you hands apart (indicated by the blue arrows) the yo-yo will go up (indicated by the orange arrow).

Step 20

Now the yo-yo is in airborne. You are going to switch your right and left hand positions, this time it is left hand over right hand. You don't, however have to move the right hand if you don't want to. I find it easier not to really move it, but it is up to you. As your left hand goes over the right, it will hit the red string with its pointer finger.

Step 21

The red segment in this picture is only part of the red segment in Step 20; they are not completely the same segment. Continue moving your left hand on the other side of your right hand. As this happens the yo-yo is going to line up to fall on the new red string segment.

Step 22

The yo-yo will fall on the red string segment only. This is indicated by the orange arrow.

Step 23

You are now in some weird hold. This is the end of the trick, and you can dismount as you like. The creator of the Fishbrain usually ended this with a single somersault then a simple roll out dismount or whatever.

This trick is very hard to learn. Most of the problems come in Steps 10 thru 13 because the yo-yo continually seems to catch. If this happens you have to widen your string gap or wait until your brake pads are worn in more. If you can't do either of these, either keep practicing and keep it perfectly lined up when you try the hop, or try another yo-yo.