National Champion at No. 4 Mine

DECEMBEER 2007
National Champion at No. 4 Mine

This is no fish story about the one that got away. Phillip Criss, Supply Clerk at No. 4 Mine, won the American Bass Anglers National Championship. The week-long event in Leesburg, Florida divided the 253 finalists into boaters and non-boaters. Phillip won the non-boater championship and the big fish overall prize. Over 92,000 people fished the American Bass Angler's Trail this year, trying to qualify for a chance to compete in the November 10th event. Phillip's total catch was 25.92 pounds and his big fish weighed 9.16 pounds. The tournament was on the Harris Chain of Lakes. "I've been fishing since I was eight years-old," says Phillip. "When I was about 15 or 16 I started fishing for just bass and crappie." Phillip, 58, has been working at JWR for 32 years and always manages to get his fishing and working schedules to blend. He has appeared on seven TV fishing shows and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles have been written about him over the years. Phillip, who has been running his own guide service on the Alabama River for 20 years, says the key to fishing is knowing how to read the weather. "Having success fishing is determined by the wind, temperature, humidity, water condition and most of all, the barometric pressure." Congratulations on your win!