White River Monster

White River Monster is the sixth episode of the second season of the thriller horror docudrama found-footage television series Lost Tapes. It originally aired on Animal Planet on October 27th, 2009 and was directed by Douglas Segal.

Plot
In Summer 2009, Mac Barrett and Tyler Crenshaw decided to try out the sport of catfish noodling in the White River, and documented their adventure with the help of an experienced fishing guide, Earl Gaines. Earl continually rejects all the potential fishing spots that they suggest, pointing out such threats as traps set up by other fishermen, fast water, and rising water.

When Mac and Tyler question him, Earl finally admits that he is worried about the presence of the fabled White River Monster, but they just mock him. After some goading, Earl finally agrees to using the last spot they suggested. He finally shows them how to noodle, capturing some images with a waterproof camera of a catfish which he successfully lands. As he tries to give them another demonstration, the fish he is going for bites him, and he fends it off with a knife. When he brings his arm out, they see that he is bleeding profusely.

Earl suggests that they leave, insisting that whatever bit him was not a catfish. Mac and Tyler suggest that they stay and try to catch some fish, and Earl agrees to stay but refuses to re-enter the water, warning them of the creature and the water that will be rising soon. Mac and Tyler try, unsuccessfully, to catch some fish themselves. Mac's leg suddenly becomes stuck and he cannot free himself.

Earl goes back into the water to help Mac, but is suddenly pulled under the water by an unseen creature, and his blood bubbles to the surface. They begin panicking, knowing that something big and aggressive is in the water, and wonder if it is the White River Monster. As Tyler tries to help Mac, he is unable to free him. With the creature lurking in the rising water, Tyler retrieves a shovel from his bag and tries to free Mac before suddenly being attacked and killed by the creature. All alone, Mac yells for help in vain.

His camera captures brief glimpses of the creature underwater, which is a gigantic fish resembling a payara, as it attacks him. However, the force of the impact frees him and he swims to safety. Mac suffered a fractured foot, but survived to petition the Arkansas government to drag the river in the hopes of finding the bodies of Tyler and Earl, as well as prove the existence of the creature, but was repeatedly denied. Tyler and Earl's deaths were officially attributed to alligator attacks, which are a rare occurrence in Arkansas, but satisfied the local authorities.