Avena Maintains Top Spot For Group B

Friday, August 20, 2021

Photo: MLF/Rob Matsuura

Adrian Avena's mixed-species bag gave him the victory in the Group B Qualifying Round.

By MLF Communications Staff

It was a battle at the top of the unofficial leaderboard for most of the afternoon between pros Adrian Avena of Vineland, N.J., Mitch Crane of Columbus Miss. and Jared McMillan of Clewiston, Fla. at the Major League Fishing TITLE Championship. The trio of anglers stayed within 1 1/2 pounds of each other on the unofficial leaderboard in a tight race for the top position and the automatic berth to Sunday’s Championship Round.

Avena shored up the Group B win at the Friday weigh-in, punching his ticket straight through to the final round with a five-bass limit weighing 13-10, bringing his two-day total to 29-06. His winning bag gave him a 1-01 advantage over McMillan, who weighed 13-06 on Friday, for a total of 28-05, good for 2nd place. After some heart-breaking penalties, Crane brought a limit of 13-06 to the stage for a two-day total of 27-15, ending the day in 3rd.

Only the top 20 anglers will move on in the competition. Anglers finishing 21st through 30th earned $10,500 at the event, while anglers finishing 31st through 50th took home $10,000.

Group A and Group B Qualifying Round winners will enjoy a day off on Saturday, while the remaining 18 anglers – nine from Group A and nine from Group B – will compete Saturday in the Knockout Round. Weights will be zeroed, and anglers will compete to finish in the Top 8 and advance to the final day.

The Championship Round on Sunday will feature Group A winner Miles Burghoff, Group B winner Avena and the eight anglers from the Knockout Round, competing in a final-day shootout for a top prize of up to $235,000.

“I had a good day, and this honestly feels like a million dollars because I really didn’t want to fish tomorrow,” Avena admitted. “I’m burning up fish out there, but I’ve still got something in my back pocket that I’m glad I don’t have to burn tomorrow. I have no idea if I’m going to be able to get to it or not, but at least I’m going to do it on Championship Sunday. If I get stuck, I get stuck – if I take off my lower unit, I take off my lower unit – but at least it’s on championship day.”

Avena said he caught approximately 20 keepers on Friday but had a bit of unique pressure in his area.

“There are a couple young kids out where I’m fishing – and I’ve got nothing against them because I’d be out there fishing my heart out too – but I blasted the fish on a topwater that first day,” said Avena. “Today it got to the point where those kids were lined up and were literally throwing a topwater at the same school of fish I’m throwing at. It’s unbelievable, but I somehow got it done.”

As the water levels on the "Mighty Miss" continue to fall, Avena said he expects the event to get even more difficult over the next two days.

“This river is bittersweet to me. It’s one of those places where I can honestly get spun out a little bit,” admitted Avena. “You guys give us too many options with pools 7, 8 and 9 and I was literally all over the place trying to practice the whole system.

“I’m mostly throwing a swimbait and a topwater,” continued Avena. “I’m mixing in a bunch of other stuff as well. I think I’ve caught one on a fluke and maybe one or two on a jerkbait. I’m fishing schoolers, and it all comes down to making the right casts. I had a couple opportunities and pulled off some 3-pounders today, and I had some other opportunities where I made bad casts.”

As for the pressure from the young enthusiasts in his area, Avena said he is taking it in stride but wouldn’t mind a little intervention.

“I hope their moms and dads or whoever are reading this, man,” Avena said. “These kids – they’re reckless, dude. I’m catching fish out of two little areas, and if I catch one, they all go to that area. If they come up schooling in the other area, the kids all run to that area. There were a few times today where literally four topwaters were landing on the same breaking fish and one of them was mine.

“It’s just one of those deals – I feel like if I could just talk to their parents a bit,” Avena laughed. “Maybe they need to go to church on Sunday. If they can just let me fish it’d be alright.

“Either way, I’m looking forward to getting back out there Sunday. Anything can happen.”

Crane and Dylan Hays tied for Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award, each bringing in a 4-03 largemouth and taking home $250. Berkley awards $500 to the angler in each group that weighs the biggest bass over their two-day Qualifying Round.

Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Ark. was also presented the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Leadership Award during the weigh-in on Friday. The award recognizes a TITLE qualifier, nominated by his peers, who displays an overall commitment to sportsmanship and community leadership, on and off the water, through ethical behavior, integrity, class, selflessness, conservation, volunteerism and kindness to others. Evan’s nomination cited his profound respect for the sport and its ability to connect people from all walks of life and his reflection of a true sportsman who will go above and beyond for others.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CT Saturday and Sunday from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton Street in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily at 3 p.m. The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney break down the extended action from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Group B Qualifying Round – Day 2

1. Adrian Avena -- 15-12 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 29-06 (10)

2. Jared McMillan -- 14-15 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

3. Mitch Crane -- 14-09 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 27-15 (10)

4. Bobby Lane -- 13-00 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 26-08 (10)

5. Skeet Reese -- 12-07 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 26-03 (10)

6. Jimmy Reese -- 13-07 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 25-07 (10)

7. Matthew Stefan -- 13-00 (5) -- 12-01 (5) -- 25-01 (10)

8. Justin Lucas -- 11-14 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 24-10 (10)

9. Cody Meyer -- 11-10 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 24-09 (10)

10. Dylan Hays -- 9-00 (4) -- 14-10 (5) -- 23-10 (9)

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not advance to the Knockout Round