Larger spiders in this family are most often found near water, especially moving water of rivers and streams. They build orb webs in the horizontal plane, often just inches above the surface of water where they can catch emerging insects like midges, mayflies, and stoneflies. Smaller species build webs in fields and meadows, often in trees and shrubs. [1]

I found many of these huge spiders at the edge of the west branch of the DuPage River at Warrenville, Illinois. They had long "lifeline"  of silken threads strung about in low foliage all allong the edge of the water. They were using these webs as quick avenues between plants, and they moved quickly and easily great distances, seemingly through thin air. I did not see any orb webs.
 

Dorsal View

Ventral View - eponymous chelicerae are much longer than orb-weavers in the family Araneidae.

Figure 1. Tetragnathid  Spiders often pose with their legs held together.

1. Bugguide.net, Family Tetragnathidae - Longjawed Orb Weavers
2. Bugguide.net, "Tetragnatha elongata"