Schumakers claim 2012 walleye derby
By STU MERRY
BHG News Service
Don and Jesse Schumaker like it when a plan comes together. Their plan came together at the right time this past weekend on the waters of Lake Sakakawea as the two laid claim to the 2012 North Dakota Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament crown. The father-son team eked out a narrow victory, weighing 41.39 lbs. of walleye to win the tournament, edging Garrison’s Dennis and Irene Jeffrey by a mere .09 lbs. The win was gratifying. "We fish really hard," said Jesse. "We really go after it – it feels fantastic that you actually have a plan that comes together and holds strong, and the wind stays pretty consistent and the weather cooperated for the most part." Relieved that the wait was finally over, Jesse took a deep breath, letting the reality set in. "It feels fantastic," he said. The previous highest place finish the father-son team has seen is 18th. That came in 2010. Last year, the team finished 24th. Don has been close, placing second three years running – those came in 1993, ‘94 and ‘95. Then, his partner was his father, the late Harry Schumaker. "He’s never won it," Jesse said of his father. Ironically, the difference in first and second this year was the difference between first and second in 1995.
