By MLF Communications Staff


KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey, weighed in five scorable largemouth bass totaling 26 pounds, 5 ounces, to grab the early lead for Group B after its opening day of competition at the MLF Bass Pro Tour event at the Kissimmee Chain. Randy Howell of Guntersville, Alabama, sits 2-07 behind Avena in second place with 23-14.

Avena started the day out slowly and was tied for 33rd place after the first period of competition. He went on a tear in Period 2, upgrading by 25 pounds and charging into the lead, which he then held for the remainder of the day.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the event,” Avena said. “Now I just have to figure out a way to make it count.”

Avena was done fishing by 1 p.m. Tuesday and spent the rest of the day in practice mode. He’s fishing in an area that he has all to himself and that MLF commentator Marty Stone described as, “pretty far down south.”

“This is probably, low key, one of my most favorite Valentine’s days that I’ve ever had,” said Avena. “I caught 26 pounds – the biggest bag I’ve ever caught in my life. And I caught them in a tournament. That’s freaking awesome.

“A key bait for me today was a 5.75(-inch Berkley Powerbait) Speed Boss, that I caught two of my big ones on,” Avena continued. “It’s a great little swimming worm. I’m going to have to call up Brad from Pure Fishing and ask him to overnight me some more of these, because I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to catch quite a few more on it the rest of this week.”

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have a day off on Wednesday, while the 40 anglers from Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish its Qualifying Round on Thursday.

Matt Becker earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 7-01 largemouth bit his bladed swimjig during Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the Top 20 anglers from each group advance to Friday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. For the final-day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET from Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee. Each day’s takeout is held at the marina beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW! livestream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 6-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.



Group B – Qualifying Round Day 1

1. Adrian Avena -- 26-05 (5) -- 6-01

2. Randy Howell -- 23-14 (5) -- 6-13

3. Jacob Wheeler -- 19-02 (5) -- 4-12

4. Dakota Ebare -- 18-01 (5) -- 4-07

5. Bradley Roy -- 17-05 (5) -- 4-11

6. Russ Lane -- 16-11 (5) -- 6-13

7. Alton Jones Jr. -- 16-04 (5) -- 6-01

8. Cole Floyd -- 16-00 (5) -- 6-03

9. Matt Becker -- 15-15 (5) -- 7-01

10. Keith Poche -- 15-04 (5) -- 4-10

11. Fred Roumbanis -- 15-00 (5) -- 4-05

12. Chris Lane -- 14-10 (5) -- 6-09

13. Justin Lucas -- 14-10 (5) -- 4-15

14. Roy Hawk -- 13-15 (5) -- 3-10

15. Nick Lebrun -- 13-12 (5) -- 3-10

16. Andy Montgomery -- 13-03 (5) -- 5-09

17. Matt Lee -- 13-01 (5) -- 3-07

18. Timmy Horton -- 13-00 (5) -- 3-06

19. Mark Davis -- 12-11 (5) -- 4-07

20. Brent Ehrler -- 12-08 (5) -- 3-02

21. Cliff Crochet -- 12-06 (5) -- 3-14

22. Brandon Coulter -- 12-01 (4) -- 5-00

23. Jared Lintner -- 11-13 (5) -- 2-14

24. Stephen Browning -- 11-03 (5) -- 2-14

25. Takahiro Omori -- 11-02 (5) -- 3-02

26. Casey Ashley -- 11-02 (5) -- 2-10

27. Mark Daniels Jr. -- 10-11 (5) -- 2-15

28. Cliff Pace -- 10-10 (5) -- 2-06

29. Dustin Connell -- 10-07 (5) -- 3-00

30. Brent Chapman -- 10-01 (5) -- 2-12

31. Boyd Duckett -- 9-14 (5) -- 2-11

32. Jacob Wall -- 9-13 (5) -- 3-05

33. Jeff Kriet -- 9-11 (4) -- 3-03

34. Anthony Gagliardi -- 9-09 (5) -- 3-05

35. Edwin Evers -- 9-02 (5) -- 2-01

36. Terry Scroggins -- 8-13 (5) -- 2-01

37. Wesley Strader -- 8-00 (5) -- 2-02

38. Dylan Hays -- 6-09 (3) -- 3-01

39. Kevin VanDam -- 5-02 (3) -- 2-06

40. Tommy Biffle -- 1-07 (1) -- 1-07