SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Elite Series rookie Chad Griffin has run out of superlatives to describe his week on Oneida Lake. He started the tournament as "tremendous" and "incredible," but on Saturday the Cresson, Texas, pro didn't know what to say. Instead he let his performance do the talking - Griffin built his three-day total to 50 pounds, 0 ounces, which was good enough for a more than 4-pound margin over Louisiana's Greg Hackney at the Champion's Choice bass fishing tournament on Oneida Lake.
After a highly productive practice, Griffin started the tournament Thursday with the biggest bass of the day but failed to capitalize on a few key bites. Friday he switched to smaller hooks and tallied the biggest limit of the tournament. On Saturday, he held strong, landing 16 pounds, 5 ounces, furthering his lead and taking a virtual stranglehold on the $100,000 top prize.
It would take a significant blip for Griffin to relinquish the tournament. For now, Griffin continues to soak up the good vibes he experienced this week when he first laid eyes on Oneida.
"I fell in love, man"said Griffin, 32. "It's just a wonderful fishery. Right now, I'm not really nervous but I know what is at stake. No one else can control what I do. I just have to perform."
For the third straight day, Griffin struck early, boating 15 pounds by 9 a.m. on topwater baits. By 12:30 p.m., he had rounded out his total and played it safe, heading back to the weigh-in venue with ample fishing time remaining. He had nothing but smallmouth Saturday, but he said he has been able to land largemouth throughout the tournament.
Griffin said he plans to stick with the topwater bite Sunday - he primarily used an EZEE jig Friday - and would also mix in some flipping. He feels that 17 pounds would make him virtually uncatchable, so he will target that amount.
"I don't really know what to say," said Griffin, whose best BASS finish is seventh. "I'm just trying to enjoy this. I will just let the chips fall where they may."
Moving into second from fifth was Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 12 ounces. Buoyed by a recent major tournament victory, Hackney said he has been able to clear his mind and fish relaxed.
He said he has peace of mind and has fished the way he wants. At Oneida, he has been able to execute a favored pattern, though he didn't want to reveal the details. With his success this week, Hackney has put himself in contention for the inaugural Elite Series postseason. Heading into Oneida, Hackney had little chance of qualifying, but things have played out perfectly for the three-time BASS winner.
"It's so good to be able to fish the way you want to and have very little worries," he said. "I wish everyone could experience it. Right now, I'm in the mind-set that if tomorrow is meant to be, maybe I will win this thing. Regardless, I like the way I'm fishing."
Jumping eight places to third was Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., with 45 pounds, 4 ounces. Moving up to fourth from 15th was Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala., with 45-0, and rounding out the top five was Jason Quinn of York, S.C., with 44-15.
Only the top 12 anglers moved on to Sunday's competition, and that field includes 2008 Oneida champion Dean Rojas (seventh) and home-state favorite Matt Sphar (eighth) of Pavilion, N.Y.
DAY 3 STANDINGS
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 15 50-00 310
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 16-05
2. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 45-12 295
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 15-01
3. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 45-04 290
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 15-15
4. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 45-00 285
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 16-03
5. Jason Quinn York, SC 15 44-15 280
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 13-03
6. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 15 44-14 276
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 12-11
7. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 15 44-09 272
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 14-02
8. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 15 44-02 268
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 14-08
9. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 15 43-04 264
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 5 14-10
10. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 15 43-02 260
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-11
11. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 42-13 257
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 14-12
12. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 42-11 254
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 12-12
13. John Crews Salem, VA 15 42-11 251 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 13-09
14. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 42-11 248 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 13-15
15. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 42-07 245 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 14-12
16. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 15 42-07 243 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 14-04
17. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 42-06 241 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 14-05
18. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 42-05 239 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 15-07
19. Alton Jones Waco, TX 15 42-04 237 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 5 14-14
20. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 15 42-01 235 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 13-02
21. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 41-15 233 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 14-08
22. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 15 41-14 231 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 14-05
23. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 41-10 229 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 15-12
24. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 15 41-08 227 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 12-13
25. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 15 41-05 225 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 15-10
26. Randy Howell Springville, AL 14 41-04 228 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 4 10-03
27. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 41-01 221 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 13-15
28. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 15 40-15 219 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 12-11
29. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 15 40-15 217 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 13-05
30. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 40-13 215 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 12-05
31. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 15 40-13 213 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 14-01
32. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 15 40-09 211 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 12-00
33. Pat Golden High Point, NC 15 40-09 209 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-12
34. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 15 40-07 207 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 13-10
35. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 15 40-06 205 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 13-15
36. Jeff Reynolds Platter, OK 15 40-05 203 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 14-01
37. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 40-01 201 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 11-01
38. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 40-01 199 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 11-04
39. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 39-11 197 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 13-15
40. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 15 39-10 195 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 09-14
41. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 15 39-08 193 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 13-03
42. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 15 39-05 191 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 11-02
43. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 39-01 189 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 11-01
44. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 38-14 187 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 12-12
45. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 15 38-01 185 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 12-08
46. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 15 37-14 183 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 12-05
47. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 15 36-03 181 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 10-03
48. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 15 35-03 179 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 08-10
49. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 15 34-00 177 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 07-13
50. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 26-12 175 $9,506.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
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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
3 Randy Howell Springville, AL 04-03 $0.00
3 Alton Jones Waco, TX 04-03 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 96 480 1251-09
2 98 490 1274-03
3 48 244 650-10
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242 1214 3176-06