Griffin Leads Bass Fishing Tournament on Oneida Lake

August 15, 2009
B.A.S.S. News - Archived

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