A Grainger County woman made the catch of a lifetime while fishing Monday afternoon at Cherokee Lake.

Bonnie Rucker and her husband have been spending their afternoons and evenings fishing together for nearly 50 years. It only took Rucker about 30 minutes Monday afternoon to land the 39 inch, 31 pound Buffalo Carp.

“I was exhausted! I just plopped down in my chair when I got him in,” Rucker explained.

Rucker said her secret is using redworms, setting the pole down once the line is cast, and just waiting for the fish to bite.

“You let him wear himself out,” Rucker said.

Rucker is a 68 year-old grandmother who still works three days a week, but gets out to her favorite fishing hole at least as many days.

“When you have a bad day at work, you can come and fish and forget it,” Rucker said.