By MLF Communications Staff

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was another incredible day of fishing Saturday on Cayuga Lake for the 40 remaining pros competing in the Knockout Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour event. Adrian Avena of Vineland, N.J.paced the field, catching 13 scorable smallmouth, with his best five weighing a hefty 29 pounds, 6 ounces. Avena’s roommate and traveling partner on tour, reigning Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler, looms large in second place just 2 ounces back with 29-04.

Sure, the 29-pound limits of smallmouth are impressive, but even more impressive this week has been the sheer number of 4-, 5- and 6-pound bass being caught. Fifteen anglers caught a limit weighing greater than 25 pounds Saturday. The average weight of every fish caught today was just over 4-03. And Avena, a 12-year vet seeking his first career major win, has amassed 76-06 over his three days on the water.

“Today was the best smallmouth fishing day of my entire life,” Avena said in his post-game interview. “I caught three 6-pounders. This place is incredible. The flogger has done a lot of damage for me this week, as the big key has been finding the fish well off the bank.

“Another key is using a really fast-action spinning reel,” Avena continued. “Once I drop that flogger and I hook that fish, those smallmouth come straight to the top. I’ve been using a brand new Abu Garcia Revo3 Rocket reel, as it has a super, super-fast gear ratio, and that has been a crucial part of getting those fish in the boat.”

Although he was happy to have the lead, Avena is not at all comfortable with his position yet.

“I’m definitely going to have to find some new fish tomorrow if I want to win,” Avena said. “I foul-hooked a 5-12 today that I’m hoping I can find tomorrow. I found a 6-06 earlier in the week that’s gone now as well as another 6-pounder that has moved out. There’s fish that are moving out, but also new ones moving in so I hope I can find a big 7-pounder like Wheeler did today. It’s going to be an absolute dog-race tomorrow.

Qualifying Round winners Spencer Shuffield (28-01) and Kevin VanDam (25-15) also advanced inside the Top 10, in third and 10th, respectively. Fourth-place pro David Dudley (27-08) qualified for his second-straight Championship Round appearance, as did Takahiro Omori (26-14) in sixth and Matt Becker (26-02) in ninth.

Tournament weights are stacked up – just 3-07 separates Avena in first from VanDam in 10th. Competition resumes Sunday morning with the final-day Championship Round, where weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total will win the top prize of $100,000.

Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award went to Wheeler, who caught a 7-05 smallmouth in Period 1 on a dropshot rig. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

Anglers launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Takeouts are held at the park 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 MLFNOW! livestream and ScoreTracker coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Sunday, the MLF Fan Experience will take place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, , from 1 to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. At 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The tournament features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney breaks down the extended action live from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on each competition day. MLFNOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.



Knockout Round

(Figure at far right indicates weight of angler's heaviest fish for the day)

1. Adrian Avena -- 29-06 (5) -- 6-02

2. Jacob Wheeler -- 29-04 (5) -- 7-05

3. Spencer Shuffield -- 28-01 (5) -- 5-11

4. David Dudley -- 27-08 (5) -- 5-13

5. Dakota Ebare -- 27-05 (5) -- 6-08

6. Takahiro Omori -- 26-14 (5) -- 5-13

7. Mark Rose -- 26-11 (5) -- 5-10

8. Alton Jones Jr. -- 26-08 (5) -- 5-11

9. Matt Becker -- 26-02 (5) -- 5-07

10. Kevin VanDam -- 25-15 (5) -- 5-10

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

11. Anthony Gagliardi -- 25-14 (5) -- 5-15

12. Cody Meyer -- 25-11 (5) -- 5-06

13. Skeet Reese -- 25-09 (5) -- 5-07

14. Jesse Wiggins -- 25-06 (5) -- 5-08

15. Marty Robinson -- 25-03 (5) -- 6-01

16. Alton Jones -- 24-11 (5) -- 5-04

17. Bradley Roy -- 24-11 (5) -- 5-03

18. Dustin Connell -- 24-08 (5) -- 5-08

19. Dean Rojas -- 24-07 (5) -- 5-10

20. Jared Lintner -- 24-03 (5) -- 5-10

21. Casey Ashley -- 23-13 (5) -- 5-09

22. Jonathon VanDam -- 23-02 (5) -- 5-08

23. Ott DeFoe -- 23-01 (5) -- 6-02

24. Jeff Sprague -- 23-00 (5) -- 5-00

25. Brent Ehrler -- 22-06 (5) -- 5-02

26. Mark Daniels Jr. -- 22-01 (5) -- 5-06

27. Zack Birge -- 21-13 (5) -- 5-06

28. Cliff Pace -- 21-13 (5) -- 5-06

29. Andy Montgomery -- 21-09 (5) -- 4-13

30. Dylan Hays -- 21-01 (5) -- 5-00

31. Edwin Evers -- 21-00 (5) -- 4-11

32. Terry Scroggins -- 20-09 (5) -- 4-10

33. Chris Lane -- 20-07 (5) -- 5-00

34. Jordan Lee -- 20-04 (5) -- 5-10

35. Cole Floyd -- 19-14 (5) -- 4-10

36. Justin Lucas -- 19-09 (5) -- 5-05

37. Keith Poche -- 19-03 (5) -- 4-08

38. Greg Vinson -- 18-06 (5) -- 4-11

39. Scott Suggs -- 13-00 (5) -- 3-07

40. Mark Davis -- 8-08 (2) -- 4-14