What We Do

CO-FOUNDER

Tim Scott is a co-founder of the Tie-a-thon program which has gently nudged fly tyers from all over the world to donate over 200,000 flies, and counting, to various good causes over the past 16 years.

Tim is a member of St. Josep River Fly Fishers (SJRVFF), Little Elkhart Trout Unlimited and FlyGirls of Michigan. He has been tying and teaching this passion for over 25 years.

With a degree in Photojournalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, he has contributed articles and photographs in “Catch”, “The Drake” and “Michigan Streamside Journal” magazines.

Tim chases trout, smallies and steelhead about 80 days of the year in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Colorado; he and his wife Karen live in South Bend Indiana.

CO-FOUNDER

Terry Wittorp co-founded Tie-A-Thon with Tim Scott 16 years ago out of a lifelong passion ofsharing his love for the sport of fly-fishing. Being able to help youth groups, cancer recovery groups, and veterans enjoy fishing through Tie-A-Thon has been his greatest honor. Terry is passionate about fisheries conservation and public lands and is dedicated to ensuring future generations have the same opportunity to catch the incredible trout he has had.

Terry has served on the boards and been an active volunteer of numerous conservation and fly-fishing groups over the last 40 years including, St. Joe River Valley Fly-Fishers, Kalamazoo Valley Trout Unlimited, KVCTU Youth Conservation Camp, Fly-Fishing Team USA, The Madison River Foundation, and MEANDERS.

Terry will tell you home means Montana and he’d rather be in Montana chasing big trout on Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park, floating the Madison River with his daughter, or stripping streamers on the Jefferson with his son. When he’s not in Montana, you can find him at home where he and his wife have lived for over 40 years, on Magician Lake in Southwest Michigan, where he’s usually cooking up his famous meals, pontooning and drinking a good glass of wine.

SECRETARY

Ann Miller is an active and ardent fly angler and tier. She enjoys sharing her love of fly fishingwith others and teaches fly fishing classes, schools, and workshops. She has extensively researched and studied aquatic insects as they pertain to fly fishing, publishing the Hatch Guidefor Upper Midwest Streams (Frank Amato Publications, 2012; currently out of print). Her newbook, Pocketguide for Upper Midwest Streams (Stackpole Books), will be published in 2023.

Ann also writes a column for Michigan Trout and occasional articles for other publications.

Ann is a founder and current president of Flygirls, an organization whose purpose is to helpwomen become involved in fly fishing. The club was founded in 1996 and continues in itspurpose to teach women to fly fish as well as provide fly fishing and fly tying outings in Michigan and beyond. She is a past board member and officer of SJRVFF as well.

TRESURER

Don Reber recently retired after having spent nearly 40 years in the mortgage lending industry. Most recently, servicing as the Sr. Vice-president-Area Manager for Ruoff Home Mortgage. Although he was able to celebrate many accomplishments throughout his career, he was most proud of his early involvement in helping Ruoff grow from a small local lender to one of the top lenders in the Midwest with over 200 offices. During his time in the mortgage industry, he received much recognition but most notably, the Elkhart County Board of Realtors Affiliate of the Year, the Cressy & Everett Affiliate of theYear, Trustcorp Mortgage Presidents Award and several Rouff Manager of the Year awards.

Along with Don’s involvement with the Tie-a-thon, he is the current treasurer and a past president of The St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers. Other past affiliations would include President of Indiana State Mortgage Bankers Association, board member the Near Northeast Neighborhood association, board member for the Windingbrook Neighborhood Association, board member Summit Club and President Kiwanis of Mishawaka.

Don graduated from Akron University and currently resides in Mishawaka, IN with his wife of 34 years,Sue. They have two wonderful grown children and a mini-Aussie dog. Beside his passion for fly fishing, he enjoys golf, working around the house.

DIRECTOR

Andy Kitson has done the artwork for the Tie-A-Thon since the beginning. He started fly fishing soon after graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Outfitters, clubs, and camps have used Andy's designs. He is a member of several conservation and fishing clubs and has served as president of SJRVFF.

Mr. Kitson is also the sales and marketing director for an environmentally conscious automotive component supplier. He lives in northern Indiana with his wife, six kids, and two dogs.