Unlike a lot of anglers, Keith Carson doesn’t feel the least bit cursed by having a banana in his boat. Matter of fact, in case you need one, he often keeps more than one of the potassium-rich treats onboard to share. Just don’t ask to borrow his somewhat stinky, once bright red, now badly sun-bleached, good luck Vexus® Boats hat.
“I started wearing this particular Vexus hat in December before the 2025 season kicked-off, and I’ve been wearing it ever since. It’s got me three Top10s, and helped me qualify for REDCREST. So yea, I definitely think it’s good luck,” says the always jovial Floridian, and best friend of fellow Vexus pro, John Cox.
Carson and Cox started running around together at age 14, mostly on BMX bicycles in the year 2000, and when they discovered a mutual love of bass fishing, the bikes got shelved for aluminum boats. They towed their first shared aluminum boat around with a 1984 Chevrolet Caprice that Carson’s grandma gave him.
Now, as two of the top pros in America, not much has changed. Their penchant for aluminum versus fiberglass is stronger than ever.
“Part of our reliance on aluminum boats started with the fact neither John nor I came from money. So, aluminum boats were always more affordable, but when we discovered we could take them into water others couldn’t access in a heavier glass boat, and that we could catch fish they couldn’t get to, our love of aluminum grew even greater,” says Carson.
“This will sound like a promotional plug, but I swear to you the biggest factor in my recent Top 10s on both the Potomac River and Saginaw Bay was the boat. My AVX2100 floats about 4” shallower than most pros’ fiberglass boats. Not to mention, I’m not afraid to drive it over top of things they wouldn’t dare drive over in a glass boat,” grins Carson.
And while Keith Daffron, Hunter Baird, and the good folks at Vexus promise to ship him a handful of fresh hats, Carson is just fine remaining loyal to the sun-bleached model that’s brought him so much good fortune the past eight months.
“Shaylee bought one of those hat washing things you can use to clean a ball cap in a dishwasher or washing machine. We tried it, but it’s still a little stinky, and I’m okay with that. It tells me we didn’t wash all the good luck out of it,” laughs Carson in conclusion.
