THE GREATEST
CATCH EVER?
ome have dubbed Adrian
Avena’s “execution” while land-
ing a key 4-pounder during the
Knockout Round of the MLF Bass Pro
Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One pre-
sented by Power-Pole as the greatest
catch ever. While that’s debatable, a
video called “Avena Jumping in for a
Bass,” which shows the events play out,
certainly is one of the wildest clips to ever
hit the internet from a bass tournament.
In the video, Avena hooks the fish
with a spinnerbait and hangs it in a
brush pile that tops out about 7 feet
deep in Lake Eufaula. After a brief
debate with himself about whether or
not to jump in after it, the New Jersey
pro removes his jersey and plunges into
the 55-degree water. Eventually – and
probably slightly by accident – he’s able
to work the fish loose with his feet and
pull it up to hand.
“All my buddies bust my butt all the
time because I’ve got, like, 4-inch toes,
but we just got me one,” he says, fish
finally in hand.
Though leaving the boat cost him a
three-minute penalty, Avena was able to
make the Championship Round thanks
to that catch, and he’ll forever be linked
to one of tournament bass fishing’s
wildest scenes.
You can see the video and judge for
yourself where the catch rates at
YouTube.com/MajorLeagueFishing.
S
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
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