Angling against Autism

This year’s Angling for Autism bass tournament is critical for The Learning Tree, a lake area nonprofit that has seen all but this one annual fundraiser canceled in the wake of protections against the coronavirus. The fishing tourney, which is set for Oct. 10, typically raises about 14 percent of some $70,000 needed to supplement educational and clinical services that are provided to children with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum conditions in four Alabama locations, including Tallassee.

The tournament will launch at safe daylight from the Wind Creek State Park Marina with Dallas Weldon directing for the seventh consecutive year. An avid angler, Weldon began volunteering his equipment and tournament experience to help The Learning Tree after his wife took the position of resource development coordinator there. The event’s focus is on fishing and raising money for the nonprofit, so there’s little fanfare about it, Weldon said.