Rookie Griffin Takes Top Spot With 18-08 Sack

Chad Griffin caught the biggest fish that came to the scale on day 1 of the Oneida Bassmaster Elite Series in New York. On day 2 he caught the biggest bag that's been weighed on either day and took over the lead at the halfway point.

The Texas rookie, who has his water all to himself, sacked 18-08 today for a 2-day total of 33-11. He divulged that he's catching everything on a flipping stick.

He's a pound and a half up on Bernie Schultz, who's 2nd with 32-03. The Florida veteran weighed 16-12 today, all largemouths, and doesn't know whether he can catch another limit of green fish – or even one – on day 3.

South Carolina's Jason Quinn boxed 16-05 today and climbed seven spots up to 3rd with a 31-12 total. He said he's working a pattern that might be unique, at least among the leaders.

Day-1 leader Randy Howell of Alabama came in with 13-08 today and slipped three spots to 4th with 31-10. He said he had the bites to boat another big sack, but couldn't convert.

Recent Forrest Wood Cup winner Greg Hackney caught the day's third-biggest stringer (17-04) and jumped from 37th to 5th with 30-11. He said his carefree approach to the regular-season finale is helping him make the right moves at the right times.

Here's a peek at the current Top 12, with red numbers in parentheses indicating deficit margin from the leader:

1. Chad Griffin: 33-11
2. Bernie Schultz: 32-03 (1-08)
3. Jason Quinn: 31-12 (1-15)
4. Randy Howell: 31-01 (2-10)
5. Greg Hackney: 30-11 (3-00)
6. Dean Rojas: 30-07 (3-04)
7. Takahiro Omori: 29-15 (3-12)
8. Pete Ponds: 29-12 (3-15)
9. Matt Sphar: 29-10 (4-01)
10. Terry Butcher: 29-07 (4-04)
11. Jeff Kriet: 29-05 (4-06)
12. John Crews: 29-02 (4-09 )

The Top 3 slots are occupied by anglers who've had little to shout about up to this point in the season. Griffin, who's made three 50-cuts but has had no finish higher than 32nd, came in at No. 66 in the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year race. Schultz and Quinn were 55th and 56th, respectively.

The new Top 12 contains six members who weren't there yesterday: Griffin, Hackney, 2008 Oneida winner Dean Rojas (from 20th to 6th with 15-15 today), Matt Sphar (67th to 9th, 17-09), Jeff Kriet (32nd to 11th, 15-09) and John Crews (26th to 12th, 15-02). They replaced Dustin Wilks (3rd to 20th, 12-05), Peter Thliveros (4th to 24th, 12-04), 2006 winner Tommy Biffle (5th to 19th, 12-13), Mark Menendez (6th to 26th, 12-07), Gerald Swindle (7th to 15th, 13-04) and Skeet Reese (9th to 17th, 13-04).

It was another warm, calm, sunny day in the Syracuse area and that weather pattern is predicted to hold through the weekend. Tomorrow's forecast calls for a high temperature of 89 degrees with wind out of the west/southwest to 5 mph.

The field will be cut to the Top 12 after tomorrow's weigh-in and the winner will be determined Sunday by highest combined weight. The 12-angler field for the two-event postseason to determine the AOY will be solidified after the final weigh-in and the Top 37 in the points chase will have earned berths in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.

Griffin a Lonely Man

Griffin found three smallmouth areas and two largemouth havens in practice. They all harbor big fish and, best of all, he's the only angler fishing them.

"Things are going great," he said. "Everything's falling into place and I haven't seen a boat in 2 days. I'm all by myself, 2 miles from anybody."

He has just two rods on his deck and both are identical flipping sticks. A jig is attached to one and a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver to the other.

"I'm flipping the whole time. I've got some waypoints and I'm just doing circles around them. It usually takes me 10 or 15 minutes to get my first bite, but after that they start feeding like crazy. A lot of times I can catch nine or 10 out of the same school."

Today's bag contained three smallmouths and two largemouths. One of the green ones weighed 4-04.

He said his total would be considerably higher had he not lost five smallmouths (three on day 1, two today) in the 4 1/2- to 5-pound range. "I've had some hook problems. I don't know if their mouths are too hard or too small or what."

He pulled off of his fish at about noon today.

"I just went practicing – once you get past 17 pounds, it's pretty hard to cull and I didn't want to burn stuff up. The grace of God has shined on me the last 2 days."

2nd: Slow Going for Schultz

Schultz weighed five largemouths today after bringing four largemouths and a smallmouth to the scale on day 1.

"I've got a couple of patterns working, but it's so slow it's almost like junk-fishing," he said. "It's a real grind – I'm not getting many bites.

"I got a lot more bites in practice, but now it's half as many or less. I've been fortunate to get some good ones."

He's started each day trying to catch a limit of smallmouths before hunting the larger green fish, but he didn't achieve that today.

"That's the general idea, but it didn't go that well this morning. I'll probably try it again tomorrow."

He's not overly confident that he can catch a third straight mid-teens bag on day 3.

"I don't have a clue about that. I'm only getting two or three bites in an area, and it could all end or it could get better. I really don't know what to expect."

3rd: Quinn had 'Em Early

Quinn started fishing at 6:30 this morning and had a 13 1/2-pound limit 45 minutes later. He went through about 25 keepers before he pulled off his best area.

"I don't have any company and I'm doing some that I think's a little different than what the other guys are doing," he said. "I hope it holds up and I think I've got enough fish to do it."

He's weighed four smallmouths and a largemouth on both days. All the ones he brought in today weighed between 3 and 3 1/2 pounds.

He has some backup stuff, but it doesn't contain the same kind of quality as his primary area. He won't let up on those fish tomorrow – he's trying to get inside the Top 50 in the points to get some AOY money and still might have a shot at the Classic if he wins or comes real close to it.

"I'm going for broke tomorrow and I'm going to catch everything I can."

4th: Howell Couldn't Connect

Howell's bag was 4 pounds lighter than his day-1 haul. He said he had the bites to approach 17 pounds again, but was unable to hook up.

"It was a little slower, but between 9:00 and 12:00, I had at least six 3-plus-pound smallmouths bite. They all clobbered a topwater bait, but they didn't get it.

"I ran to some other water, but I think an algae bloom messed it up. I wasn't catching big ones there like I had been catching and I won't waste as much time there tomorrow. I should've stayed back where the other fish are – I went back and culled four times in the last 45 minutes.

He weighed four smallmouths and one largemouth. The green one was a 2 1/2-pounder that he could never get rid of.

"I know they're still there and I'll be back after them tomorrow. I'm still in the hunt."

5th: Hackney Winging It

Hackney is all but out of postseason contention and has all but wrapped up a Classic spot. He's fishing the tournament with a free and easy attitude and it's working out for him.

"Every day I don't know what I'm going to do next," he said. "It depends on how I feel in the morning and after I look at the weather. Today I started on largemouths, but I'm not really dialed into either (species) – I am, but I'm not.

"I'm fishing for largemouths and smallmouths exactly the same way, but I'm just changing areas."

He had three largemouths in his bag today, but his two biggest fish were smallmouths (3 1/2 and 3 3/4 pounds). He's catching about 25 fish a day.

"The deal around here is you get plenty of bites, but you have to get the right bites. I'm fishing the same stuff back and forth, and then leaving and coming back to it later.

"I'm having a good time and I'm fishing as carefree as I can remember lately."

6th: Rojas Up to Old Tricks

Rojas said he's fishing pretty much the same way he did when he won here last year (throwing a frog and flipping), but he's moving around a bit more.

"I'm covering a lot of water," he said. "Today I covered the whole lake and bounced around to stretches here and there, and I finally put a good sack together."

He weighed all largemouths and the biggest was close to 4 pounds. On both days his bites have picked up dramatically at mid-morning.

"I had one fish at 10:30 today, and from then on it got good. I don't have a good morning spot like some guys do.

"I like my chances, though, being 3 pounds out of the lead. That's nothing. If I could make up a pound and a half tomorrow and then put it away on Sunday, that would be awesome."

26th: Menendez took Conservative Route

Menendez came into the tournament at No. 11 in the points and figured he could secure a postseason slot with a finish of 40th or better. He dropped 20 places today, but is still well within that margin.

"My bite was slower overall and I probably fished a little bit conservatively today," he said. "I'm fishing to stay in the Top 12 (in the AOY race) and I thought if I got 12 or 13 pounds today I'd be okay, and I got that. There was zero wind and my starting hole did not fire up and I had to completely change presentations.

"I did weigh a fish today that I'd caught yesterday and thrown back. It had a distinguishing mark on the side of its face and it was as skinny as a rail. I caught it from the same piece of grass."

He'll try to go the other direction in the standings tomorrow.

"I'll make the same little run and I'll try to get 12 1/2 or 13 pounds of smallmouths, and then go hunt for largemouths. I'd like to close that gap on the leaders (in the points) a little bit because that would give me a better chance in the postseason."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 98 anglers, 98 limits (two more than day 1).

> John Murray weighed a pound more today than he did on day 1, but it gained him only two places in the standings and he ended up 92nd. For his day-2 report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.

> Bobby Lane, who was one of two anglers to have his weight DQd on day 1 for having six fish in the livewell (Bill Lowen was the other), weighed 11-14 today. He came back to the launch early because he had two dead fish and was afraid his others might expire as well. It turned out to be the right move, since he finished more than 2 pounds ahead of Lowen and had no chance of catching Zell Rowland, who finished 96th with 19-09.

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days.

> Sat., Aug. 15 - Sunny - 89°/67°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 5 mph

> Sun., Aug. 16 - Sunny - 91°/69°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 4 mph

Day 2 Standings

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

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow.

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

Big Bass

Day 2: Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 4-13
Day 1: Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 5-08