Avena Making the Most of Take Two at Table Rock

Adrian Avena finished his day in fourth place after a strong start to his afternoon on Table Rock Lake. Photo by Phoenix Moore

June 1, 2019 • Mason Prince • Bass Pro Tour

BRANSON, Mo. – After a long day on the water during the Elimination Round of Stage Six at Table Rock Lake – a day in which he finished in 49th place and missed the cut – MLF pro Adrian Avena was quite baffled about how other pros were setting records and he was struggling to get bites. Luckily for Avena, he figured it out in the Bad Boy Mowers Stage Seven Presented by Covercraft.

The New Jersey angler ended Friday’s Shotgun Round 1 in fourth place with 53 bass for 79 pounds, 6 ounces. Avena had a suspicion that his luck might turn around thanks to well-spent practice time.

“Based off of what I found in practice I knew that if we got some sun today I was going to get a lot of bites,” Avena explained. “That’s what happened in the first period, and that’s how I was about to jump out to a lead.”

Avena jumped out to a 12-pound lead at the end of Period 1, but was unable to keep pace with Jacob Wheeler and Shin Fukae, both of whom broke MLF records with more than 100 pounds caught in one day. Still, a fourth-place ending is more sweet than bitter for Avena.

“There’s no doubt in my mind I could have caught 100 pounds today if I wanted to,” Avena divulged. “Luckily, I still have some good spots left to go to on Sunday that I didn’t hit today. If we get some more sun, I will continue to run offshore and fish brush and rock. I think that’s a pattern that can help me do well this week.”

Dedicated to the Drop-Shot

With a drop-shot rod glued to his hand, Avena spent his day offshore, something that he didn’t get to do during Stage Six. While he had some success with a swimbait, he began to feel more comfortable working his drop-shot.

“I really started fishing what I was comfortable doing,” Avena said. “I don’t know if it’s my saltwater background or what, but I really like offshore fishing. Last week I got stuck on those spawning fish and I was stuck on the banks. This week I told myself that I’m all in on the offshore game. I spent all day today (besides the last hour) offshore, and when I went to the shoreline all I caught was one largemouth. My butt is staying offshore for the rest of the week.”

While a majority of the pros will spend their Elimination Round fighting to make the Top 20 and advance to the Knockout Round, Avena will have the luxury of spending some extra time trying to figure some other things out.

“I’m just going to go practice on Sunday,” Avena planned. “I feel like if I could catch 20 pounds during the Elimination Round that I will pretty much be a lock to make the Knockout Round. Hopefully we get some more sun and I can catch a few bass along the way.”

Stage Seven continues Saturday at 12 p.m. CT from Table Rock Lake. The 40 pros in Group B will head out on the southwest Missouri lake for Shotgun Round 2. MLF NOW! live coverage will begin with “lines in” at noon CT on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MLF mobile app.