The 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., came out strong in his Dec. 4 blog at Bassmaster.com in favor of the Bassmaster Elite Series' new Marshal Program.

A four-time AOY, VanDam said the program is "one of the best things to happen to our sport in years."

The Marshal Program offers in-the-boat observer experiences to fishing fans. Those who sign up for the program will be randomly paired with a different Elite pro on at least two of the four days of a 2009 Elite competition. The $100 program cost, VanDam points out, is a deal for what amounts to intensive seminars on tournament fishing, one-on-one with the sport's best pros.

Wrote VanDam: "The Marshals who go out with me will get a seminar on how I'm fishing. And I know the other Elite Series competitors feel the same way. I haven't talked to a single one who isn't excited about this program and who doesn't intend to do exactly what I intend to do."