Hello, I’m Russell Gardner, and I’m thrilled to share a little bit about myself with you. I was born and raised in Seneca, South Carolina—a place many consider “God’s Country.” Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordered by the stunning Lake Hartwell and Lake Keowee is where my love for fishing began.

My fishing journey started at a young age when my grandpa took me crappie and brim fishing along the shores of Lake Hartwell. Soon after, we got a boat, and he introduced me to bass fishing. The first time I hooked and reeled in a bass on my own, I was hooked—pun intended! That moment sparked a deep passion, and I knew this was something I wanted to pursue professionally.

As I got older, my dad and I started fishing in local club tournaments, finding early success. Eventually, we graduated to a bigger circuit—the Fishers of Men Legacy Trail. Our first season with Fishers of Men was unforgettable. We qualified for the National Championship on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Arriving for practice, we were in awe of the lake’s unique structure and expansive grass beds. Coming from Hartwell and Keowee, we had never seen anything like it. Without high-end electronics or GPS, we felt a bit lost, but we managed to catch a limit and make the first cut. While we didn’t make the final day, that experience ignited an even deeper passion for the sport.

Throughout high school, I juggled playing two sports for Seneca High and participating in travel baseball, which meant I couldn’t fish as often as I wanted. After graduation, I attended Tri-County Technical College, earning a degree in Industrial Electronics Technology (IET), and began working as an electrician. During this time, I continued to fish local club tournaments out of a 17-foot aluminum center console boat with a 50hp Mercury, a gift from my grandpa.

As my skills improved, I began to compete more successfully on the local level. Eventually, I outgrew that boat and knew it was time to take the next step. That’s when I upgraded to a new boat that met the requirements for regional BFL events.

Fishing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I’m excited to continue pushing myself to new levels in the sport.