Dark Fishing Spider

I took this picture on June 1st, near the confluence of the Sunrise and St. Croix rivers. Eastern Wood-Pewees were giving their pitiful call of "Hey guys!... Wait up!" and now and then a Redstart would chatter back "don't be so slow," but with the trees mostly leafed out, I didn't get a particularly good look at either. This female Dark Fishing Spider was much more cooperative and sat posing on a fallen tree trunk for at least ten minutes while I waited for the clouds to let through just enough sunlight.

I know she was female because she was huge; males are only about half the size. Spiders of the North Woods calmly explains that females of this species can look big with their legs spread out, but "in actuality, the largest span is only three and a half inches." I reject the premise that a three-and-a-half-inch spider is not huge.