Page 14 - Lady Bass Digital Magazine June 2023-Revised

Just Do It!

By Denise Sustaita

This is where it all began, my very first LBAA tournament in
March 2012. I came across these old pictures of the season
opener on Ray Hubbard in Texas. I was so nervous walking into
the Bass Pro Shop for the meeting that day! There were so many
women and I didn’t know anyone, except Debbie Chadwick Warner
who I had previously met at the Classic and she told me about
the LBAA. I didn’t know what the heck I was getting myself into
and I certainly didn’t think I was good enough to even be in
the same room with all of these experienced anglers, but I was
going to give it a shot.

I signed up as a co-angler
and I learned that I was
going to be paired with
Lynda Gessner on my very
first day. I was so ner-
vous, I had never fished
with someone I didn’t know,
but as you can see in the
picture below, she didn’t
throw me out of her boat
and we had a great day.

For the past 11 years, I have had the honor of fishing with and against some of the best
women in the nation and I have learned so much from each and every one of them along
the way.

The LBAA season opener was on Lake Palestine in
March this year and Linda and I were neck and neck
for the first place win on the pro side. She ulti-
mately beat me (barely!! ), but I love how these
pictures show the friendships and the bond that we
all have for one another, even though we compete
hard on the water!

And that is why I started with JUST DO IT! I read
a saying once - you miss 100% of the chances you
never take. I’m so glad I took that chance back in
2012. Ladies, there are so many options now these
days with local chapters (East Texas Lady Anglers)
regional/multi state chapters (Women’s Bass Tour)
and national chapters like the Lady Bass Anglers
Association. It doesn’t matter if you want a local
or national group, everyone is so nice and willing
to help because we have all been there. So go check
out some of the many lady angler trails out there
and just give it a shot, I promise, you won’t re-
14 Lady Bass Anglers Association Just Do It!