Deb Warner of Murray, Ky. was probably counted out by most of her competitors on the final day of the 2014 Ladies Bass Anglers Association Classic on Lake Ray Hubbard near Garland, Texas. But the great thing about fishing is you’re never out of it on lakes that can produce 20-plus-pound limits and 6 1/2-pound bass. That’s exactly what Warner needed to vault her from 14th place to champion on the final day. Her limit of five bass weighed 23.75 pounds and was anchored by a kicker bass weighing 6.64 pounds.
Warner has had an eventful year to say the least. While practicing for an LBAA qualifier earlier in the year with her husband Greg, their boat was struck by lightning, fry the deck, electronics and more in the boat as well as giving Greg a real jolt. Since then she’s had to rehab from knee surgery and is awaiting a second knee surgery.
“This year has had its big ups and downs,” Warner said. “From the lightning strike to one knee surgery and waiting on another, who would have thought that you could go from 14th place out of 15 to winning? Just goes to show you, the last cast, the last breath, in fishing or in life you should live every moment knowing it can make a difference.”
Kim Martin of Clayton, Ind. won the co-angler division with a 3-day weight of 16.64 pounds.
Participant Boat# #Fish Wgt Pnlty Bonus B/F Total YTDB Points
1 DEBBIE WARNER 6/ 6 23.74 6.64 23.74
2 PAM MARTIN-WELLS 7/ 7 20.32 5.12 20.32
3 PATTI CAMPBELL 7/ 7 20.25 4.99 20.25
4 LISA JOHNSON 10/10 18.35 18.35
5 ADA REED 10/10 17.81 5.18 17.81
6 PAM RIDGLE 8/ 7 16.39 .50 15.89
7 TERI CINDRIC 6/ 6 12.89 1.57 12.89
8 LYNDA GESSNER 7/ 7 12.79 12.79
9 CHERYL BOWDEN 7/ 7 12.29 1.65 12.29
10 JUANITA ROBINSON 5/ 5 11.70 3.77 11.70
11 DANIELLE MCRAE 4/ 4 7.35 2.26 7.35
12 ROBIN BABB 3/ 3 5.49 2.71 5.49
13 MONICA ALTMAN 3/ 3 5.06 1.77 5.06
14 ROBBIE HARTLINE 2/ 2 4.34 2.57 4.34
15 JUDY SKIBINSKI 1/ 1 2.10 2.10 2.10
