Kelly Eastburn Bryant: Advocate for Female Anglers

Kelly Eastburn Bryant fishing East Tennessee

Sometimes the best fishing stories begin with the simplest moments.

I met Kelly Eastburn Bryant at the BassmastHER Event during the 2026 Bassmaster Classic. She was sitting on her complimentary welcome bucket, and I offered her the stool next to mine. At that point, I didn't know her name or anything about her story, but I knew one thing: she loved fishing, and that was enough for me to know we'd get along just fine.

As our conversation continued, I quickly realized there was much more to Kelly than our shared love of being on the water. She is a wife, a mother of six, an operating room nurse, and someone who has made fishing an important part of her life. Her passion for the sport runs so deep that she founded Women Anglers of East Tennessee to create a community where women could learn, connect, and share their love of fishing together.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Kelly, record our conversation, and ask her, how, what and why fishing has inspired her to start her own group and encourage more women to get involved in the sport we all love.

I think you'll enjoy getting to know Kelly as much as I did.


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