Rookie Leads Bass Fishing Tournament on Oneida Lake

August 14, 2009
B.A.S.S. News - Archived

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Consumed with some positive mojo, Chad Griffin of Cresson, Texas, a Bassmaster Elite Series rookie, capitalized on consistency Friday on a New York fishery that he had never seen until this week, jumping 12 places to the lead at the Oneida Lake bass fishing tournament with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 11 ounces, good enough for a little more than a 1-pound advantage over Elite veteran Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla. The positive vibes started early in the week, when Griffin started practice and quickly realized that Oneida is similar to the Texas waters he has worked throughout his career.

   Griffin, who said he has been disappointed with his season, hasn't had much to feel good about most of the year, but a banner performance - and the $100,000 top prize - would do wonders for his confidence and bottom line. Targeting both largemouth and smallmouth, primarily with an EZEE jig, Griffin has had his areas to himself all week.

   Griffin made a key tweak Friday that helped jet him up the leaderboard. After missing several hook-ups Thursday - he felt he could have brought more than 20 pounds to the scale if he had executed - he opted for smaller hooks Friday. The move was the right one, to the tune of an 18-pound, 8-ounce limit, the biggest of the tournament through Day 2.

   "This is really exciting," said Griffin, 32. "I've felt good all week. It's like an eerie feeling. The first time I laid eyes on Oneida, I fell in love. The grass reminds me of back home."

   Griffin, who like most of the field keyed on areas with vegetation, had all of his weight by noon Friday and elected to explore new water for the remainder of the tournament. His search proved just as productive, as he was able to upgrade his total by culling three times.

   With a season-best finish of 30th, Griffin is in an unfamiliar position in first place, but the rookie feels that he is capable of closing out his first BASS victory.

   "Definitely," said Griffin, who Thursday landed the big bass of the tournament thus far, a 5-8 lunker. "My areas have enough fish and I know how to catch them. It's just a matter of execution."

   Schultz also hopped up the leaderboard with a strong showing Friday after turning around some early morning struggles. Targeting largemouth and smallmouth, he is focusing on grassy areas and is essentially fishing with his gut, fishing spots that look the most promising. Another interesting subplot for Schultz is his bid for a 2010 Classic berth. The eight-time Classic qualifier entered the tournament in 56th in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings and with virtually no shot of landing a berth. But Schultz has performed this week while others have slipped and opened the door a bit.

   Despite the positive news, Schultz, with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 3 ounces, is concerned that his areas might not hold up.

   "I'm a little concerned," said Schultz, 54. "It was a really slow, aggravating day today despite the numbers. I just have to keep moving Saturday and see what happens."

   In third was Jason Quinn of York, S.C., with 31-12. Day 1 leader Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., slipped to fourth with 31-1, and Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., moved to fifth with 30-11.

   After a tight leaderboard Thursday, things shook out a bit Friday. Still, 28 anglers are within 6 pounds of Griffin. Only the top 50 anglers advance to Saturday, and then the top 12 will move on to fish Sunday.

   With the culmination of the regular season, the AOY points will be set for the postseason. Four-time AOY Kevin VanDam (33rd) and Skeet Reese (17th) were jockeying for the lead. Toyota Trucks Championship Week is set for Sept. 10-18 on two productive Alabama fisheries. The first of the two postseason tournaments, the Trophy Chase, will take place Sept. 12-13 on Lake Jordan out of Wetumpka; the finale, the Trophy Triumph, is slated for Sept. 17-18 on the Alabama River from Montgomery.

   In the race to qualify for the 2010 Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala., Elite Series veteran Matt Reed of Madisonville, Texas, and rookie Billy McCaghren of Mayflower, Ark., were on the bubble heading into the Champion's Choice. McCaghren (48th) barely squeaked in to the top 50 cut, while Reed struggled and missed out.

   In other news, Ken Cook of Lawton, Okla., officially retired from Elite Series competition Friday after missing the cut. The 1991 Classic champion was treated to a special gathering Friday to celebrate his illustrious career. Cook finished in 75th place.

   Fans are encouraged to attend the Champion's Choice daily launches (6 a.m. ET) and weigh-ins (4 p.m.) through Sunday at Oneida Shores County Park, 9400 Bartell Rd., Brewerton.

DAY 2 STANDINGS

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

  Angler                  Hometown             No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Chad Griffin          Cresson, TX            10  33-11  305

  Day 1: 5  15-03     Day 2: 5  18-08 

2.  Bernie Schultz        Gainesville, FL        10  32-03  295

  Day 1: 5  15-07     Day 2: 5  16-12 

3.  Jason Quinn           York, SC               10  31-12  290

  Day 1: 5  15-07     Day 2: 5  16-05 

4.  Randy Howell          Springville, AL        10  31-01  290

  Day 1: 5  17-09     Day 2: 5  13-08 

5.  Greg Hackney          Gonzales, LA           10  30-11  280

  Day 1: 5  13-07     Day 2: 5  17-04 

6.  Dean Rojas            Lake Havasu City, AZ    10  30-07 276

  Day 1: 5  14-08     Day 2: 5  15-15 

7.  Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX              10  29-15  272

  Day 1: 5  16-11     Day 2: 5  13-04 

8.  Pete Ponds            Madison, MS            10  29-12  268

  Day 1: 5  15-09     Day 2: 5  14-03 

9.  Matthew Sphar         Pavilion, NY           10  29-10  264

  Day 1: 5  12-01     Day 2: 5  17-09 

10. Terry Butcher         Talala, OK             10  29-07  260

  Day 1: 5  15-06     Day 2: 5  14-01 

11. Jeff Kriet            Ardmore, OK            10  29-05  257

  Day 1: 5  13-12     Day 2: 5  15-09 

12. John Crews            Salem, VA              10  29-02  254

  Day 1: 5  14-00     Day 2: 5  15-02 

13. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC              10  29-00  251

  Day 1: 5  13-15     Day 2: 5  15-01 

14. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX             10  28-15  248

  Day 1: 5  15-03     Day 2: 5  13-12 

15. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL            10  28-13  245

  Day 1: 5  15-09     Day 2: 5  13-04 

16. Ish Monroe            Hughson, CA            10  28-13  243

  Day 1: 5  14-10     Day 2: 5  14-03 

17. Skeet Reese           Auburn, CA             10  28-12  241

  Day 1: 5  15-08     Day 2: 5  13-04 

18. Brian Clark           Haltom City, TX        10  28-11  239

  Day 1: 5  13-03     Day 2: 5  15-08 

19. Tommy Biffle          Wagoner, OK            10  28-10  237

  Day 1: 5  15-13     Day 2: 5  12-13 

20. Dustin Wilks          Rocky Mount, NC        10  28-09  235

  Day 1: 5  16-04     Day 2: 5  12-05 

21. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL              10  28-08  233

  Day 1: 5  14-11     Day 2: 5  13-13 

22. Jeff Connella         Bentley, LA            10  28-04  231

  Day 1: 5  15-00     Day 2: 5  13-04 

23. Kelly Jordon          Mineola, TX            10  28-03  229

  Day 1: 5  12-14     Day 2: 5  15-05 

24. Peter E Thliveros      St Augustine, FL        10  28-03 227

  Day 1: 5  15-15     Day 2: 5  12-04 

25. Steve Kennedy         Auburn, AL             10  28-01  225

  Day 1: 5  10-13     Day 2: 5  17-04 

26. Mark Menendez         Paducah, KY            10  28-01  223

  Day 1: 5  15-10     Day 2: 5  12-07 

27. Scott Rook            Little Rock, AR        10  28-00  221

  Day 1: 5  13-01     Day 2: 5  14-15 

28. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR         10 27-11  219

  Day 1: 5  11-12     Day 2: 5  15-15 

29. Scott Campbell        Springfield, MO        10  27-10  217

  Day 1: 5  13-10     Day 2: 5  14-00 

30. Dave Wolak            Wake Forest, NC        10  27-09  215

  Day 1: 5  14-07     Day 2: 5  13-02 

31. Edwin Evers           Talala, OK             10  27-07  213

  Day 1: 5  15-03     Day 2: 5  12-04 

32. Alton Jones           Waco, TX               10  27-06  211

  Day 1: 5  13-12     Day 2: 5  13-10 

33. Kevin VanDam          Kalamazoo, MI          10  27-02  209

  Day 1: 5  14-00     Day 2: 5  13-02 

34. Cliff Pace            Petal, MS              10  26-14  207

  Day 1: 5  13-12     Day 2: 5  13-02 

35. Pat Golden            High Point, NC          10 26-13  205

  Day 1: 5  12-12     Day 2: 5  14-01 

36. Todd Auten            Lake Wylie, SC          10 26-13  203

  Day 1: 5  13-08     Day 2: 5  13-05 

37. Wade Grooms           Bonneau, SC            10  26-12  201

  Day 1: 5  12-08     Day 2: 5  14-04 

38. Rick Morris           Virginia Beach, VA      10 26-12  199

  Day 1: 5  13-03     Day 2: 5  13-09 

39. Shaw E Grigsby        Gainesville, FL        10  26-09  197

  Day 1: 5  13-15     Day 2: 5  12-10 

40. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                10  26-07  195

  Day 1: 5  12-04     Day 2: 5  14-03 

41. Denny Brauer          Camdenton, MO          10  26-05  193

  Day 1: 5  11-11     Day 2: 5  14-10 

42. Jeff Reynolds         Platter, OK            10  26-04  191

  Day 1: 5  14-08     Day 2: 5  11-12 

43. Clark Reehm           Russellville, AR        10 26-03  189

  Day 1: 5  13-14     Day 2: 5  12-05 

44. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         10 26-02  187

  Day 1: 5  12-14     Day 2: 5  13-04 

45. Jeremy Starks         Charleston, WV          10 26-00  185

  Day 1: 5  14-03     Day 2: 5  11-13 

46. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX             10  25-14  183

  Day 1: 5  13-14     Day 2: 5  12-00 

47. Jared Lintner         Arroyo Grande, CA       10 25-12  181

  Day 1: 5  11-10     Day 2: 5  14-02 

48. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR          10  25-11  179

  Day 1: 5  10-14     Day 2: 5  14-13 

49. Derek Remitz          Grant, AL              10  25-09  177

  Day 1: 5  13-07     Day 2: 5  12-02 

50. J Todd Tucker         Moultrie, GA           10  25-09  175

  Day 1: 5  12-09     Day 2: 5  13-00 

51. Britt Myers           Lake Wylie, SC          10 25-06  173

  Day 1: 5  15-02     Day 2: 5  10-04 

52. Gary Klein            Weatherford, TX        10  25-05  171

  Day 1: 5  11-09     Day 2: 5  13-12 

53. Morizo Shimizu         Osaka JAPAN            10  25-05  169

  Day 1: 5  13-05     Day 2: 5  12-00 

54. Michael Iaconelli      Runnemede, NJ          10  25-04  167

  Day 1: 5  13-03     Day 2: 5  12-01 

55. Boyd Duckett          Demopolis, AL          10  25-03  165

  Day 1: 5  11-13     Day 2: 5  13-06 

56. Mike Wurm             Hot Springs, AR        10  25-03  163

  Day 1: 5  13-04     Day 2: 5  11-15 

57. Byron Velvick          Del Rio, TX            10  25-03  161

  Day 1: 5  12-07     Day 2: 5  12-12 

58. Paul Elias            Laurel, MS             10  25-03  159

  Day 1: 5  12-09     Day 2: 5  12-10 

59. Grant Goldbeck        Gaithersburg, MD        10 25-03  157

  Day 1: 5  14-04     Day 2: 5  10-15 

60. Guy Eaker             Cherryville, NC        10  25-02  155

  Day 1: 5  13-04     Day 2: 5  11-14 

61. Mark Davis            Mount Ida, AR          10  25-02  153

  Day 1: 5  12-03     Day 2: 5  12-15 

62. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10 25-01  151

  Day 1: 5  11-09     Day 2: 5  13-08 

63. Luke Gritter          Kalamazoo, MI          10  25-01  149

  Day 1: 5  11-14     Day 2: 5  13-03 

64. Kevin Wirth           Crestwood, KY          10  24-15  147

  Day 1: 5  12-11     Day 2: 5  12-04 

65. Timmy Horton          Muscle Shoals, AL       10 24-15  145

  Day 1: 5  12-09     Day 2: 5  12-06 

66. Jim Murray            Arabi, GA              10  24-13  143

  Day 1: 5  11-11     Day 2: 5  13-02 

67. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL          10  24-11  141

  Day 1: 5  13-02     Day 2: 5  11-09 

68. Mark Tyler            Vian, OK               10  24-07  139

  Day 1: 5  10-14     Day 2: 5  13-09 

69. Rick Clunn            Ava, MO                10  24-07  137

  Day 1: 5  11-00     Day 2: 5  13-07 

70. Matt Reed             Madisonville, TX        10 24-07  135

  Day 1: 5  11-08     Day 2: 5  12-15 

71. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS        10 24-07  133

  Day 1: 5  12-01     Day 2: 5  12-06 

72. Vince Fulks           Purcell, OK            10  24-07  131

  Day 1: 5  11-02     Day 2: 5  13-05 

73. Casey Ashley          Donalds, SC            10  24-06  129

  Day 1: 5  14-10     Day 2: 5  09-12 

74. Jami Fralick          Martin, SD             10  24-06  127

  Day 1: 5  12-08     Day 2: 5  11-14 

75. Ken D Cook            Lawton, OK             10  24-04  125

  Day 1: 5  12-06     Day 2: 5  11-14 

76. Matt Herren           Trussville, AL          10 24-03  123

  Day 1: 5  11-04     Day 2: 5  12-15 

77. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH          10 24-03  121

  Day 1: 5  11-08     Day 2: 5  12-11 

78. Chris Lane            Lakeland, FL           10  24-01  119

  Day 1: 5  12-01     Day 2: 5  12-00 

79. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC              10  24-00  117

  Day 1: 5  12-02     Day 2: 5  11-14 

80. Brent Broderick        Oregonia, OH           10  23-11  115

  Day 1: 5  09-14     Day 2: 5  13-13 

81. Kevin Short           Mayflower, AR          10  23-10  113

  Day 1: 5  10-10     Day 2: 5  13-00 

82. Greg Vinson           Wetumpka, AL           10  23-10  111

  Day 1: 5  11-12     Day 2: 5  11-14 

83. Russ Lane             Prattville, AL          10 23-09  109

  Day 1: 5  10-09     Day 2: 5  13-00 

84. Mark Tucker           Saint Louis, MO        10  23-03  107

  Day 1: 5  11-08     Day 2: 5  11-11 

85. Marty Stone           Fayetteville, NC        10 23-01  105

  Day 1: 5  12-04     Day 2: 5  10-13 

86. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK              10  23-00  103

  Day 1: 5  10-14     Day 2: 5  12-02 

87. Bradley Hallman        Norman, OK             10  22-14  101

  Day 1: 5  13-01     Day 2: 5  09-13 

88. Davy Hite             Ninety Six, SC          10 22-10   99

  Day 1: 5  10-11     Day 2: 5  11-15 

89. David Smith           Del City, OK           10  22-07   97

  Day 1: 5  11-09     Day 2: 5  10-14 

90. Elton Luce Jr.         Brookeland, TX          10 22-02   95

  Day 1: 5  12-01     Day 2: 5  10-01 

91. Jimmy Mize            Ben Lomond, AR          10 22-02   93

  Day 1: 5  10-15     Day 2: 5  11-03 

92. John Murray           Phoenix, AZ            10  22-01   91

  Day 1: 5  10-08     Day 2: 5  11-09 

93. Aaron Martens         Leeds, AL              10  21-02   89

  Day 1: 5  12-07     Day 2: 5  08-11 

94. Kenyon Hill           Norman, OK             10  21-02   87

  Day 1: 5  11-13     Day 2: 5  09-05 

95. Mark Burgess          Norton, MA             10  20-08   85

  Day 1: 5  11-07     Day 2: 5  09-01 

96. Zell Rowland          Montgomery, TX          10 19-09   83

  Day 1: 5  09-00     Day 2: 5  10-09 

97. Bobby Lane            Lakeland, FL            5  11-14   81

  Day 1: 0  00-00     Day 2: 5  11-14 

98. Bill Lowen            North Bend, OH          5  09-07   79

  Day 1: 0  00-00     Day 2: 5  09-07 

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BIG BASS

Day

 1   Chad Griffin            Cresson, TX        05-08         $0.00

 2   Bernie Schultz          Gainesville, FL    04-13         $0.00

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Totals

Day  #Limits    #Fish     Weight

 1       96      480      1251-09

 2       98      490      1274-03

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        194      970      2525-12