I took this pic in Arkansas. It was 3-4 inches long.

Its a Dobson Fly I believe. Haven't seen those since I lived in Florida.

ChupacabraFly definitely.

The larva of a dobson fly called a hellgrammite is the best channel catfish bait there is for river fishing. Just hard to find them anymore.

Medieval looking bug

That thing looks armored and evil

Where's buffalo bill when you need him?

its a Helgramite we have them in Texas too you just dont see them to often

That fly makes the horse fly look like a piss ant.

We call them AVATAR bugs!! If there is a creek or river they are there here in OK!

Don't be snoozing when you put a hellgramite on a hook or he will catch you with those front pinchers like a vise grip!

Hit some high notes as a kiddo reaching in the bait pail to pull one out from the stuffin

That thing is wicked looking...."ChupacabraFly" indeed!

Bait?

Bass loved them for some reason - I would swim like crazy the other way before putting one of them in my mouth

They make good catfish bait. They are tough as nails and usually last for multiple fish

How would you hook one up???

Yep....male Dobson Fly. Lot's of them in the hill country and along many major rivers in Texas that have rocky beds. The female has shorter pinchers that are much more effective and they will bring blood. The larve are some of the best baits in the river...turn over some rocks and they may be clinging to the bottom.

Just put on a pair of leather gloves a double hook them. We used to find lots when I was a kid under the rocks in the Brazos but it seems they aren't as abundant there anymore.