Chad Griffin has decided to step away from the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2013. The Texas pro, whose only tour-level victory came as a rookie in 2009 at Oneida Lake, is taking time off to focus more on his family.
He plans to do some guiding at Lake Fork and Squaw Creek in Texas, and may fish a few EverStarts or Opens next year, but his decision to take a break from tour competition was motivated by family and finances. He gained full custody of his daughter nearly 2 years ago and wants to devote more time to her.
“I feel like the time is now to be here for her more than out on the road,” he told BassFan today. “It was hard on her and my girlfriend, me being gone so much. It took a toll on me being out on the road. I want to get myself back together mentally and be back up there playing with the big boys. There’s always a right time to do things and while you might not want to do it, you know it’s the right time.”
Since winning at Oneida, he struggled with consistency as he made just six 50-cuts over the past 3 seasons. He said financing another season of entry fees and expenses without a major sponsor would’ve been difficult.
“I always said I’d never take money away from my daughter in order to fish and for me to fish the Elite Series next year, I’d probably have to do that,” he said. “I feel burned out. In the long run, I think it’ll be a good thing. I don’t want to get out of the fishing industry. I just need to take a step back."
