Fish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus
Fish Confluence of Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, near present-day Cairo, Illinois New to Western Science
Blue Catfish

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Common Names
White Catfish / Large Catfish
Habitat
Vermillion River
Conservation
Secure
First Observed
1803-11-14
Observed At
Confluence of Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, near present-day Cairo, Illinois

Common in large rivers of east and Great Plains. Corps caught nine near Vermillion River that weighed almost 300 lbs.

Recent sightings

Where it’s being seen today

3 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2023–2025. Most recent: 2025-03-28. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.

Journal References

15 journal entries mention Blue Catfish

Jul 23 1804
Clark: July 23, 1804
...ing on his left breast. Wind from the N. W. --- Camp White Catfish 10 Miles above the Platt River Monday the 23rd of July 1804 A fair morning Set a party to look for...
Jul 24 1804
Clark: July 24, 1804
White Catfish Camp 24th of July Tuesday. a fair morning the wind rose with the Sun & blows hard from the S. thos...
Jul 25 1804
Clark: July 25, 1804
White Catfish Camp 25th of July Wednesday. Several hunters Sent out. at 2 oClock the Two men Sent to the Otteaz ...
Jul 26 1804
Clark: July 26, 1804
Whit Catfish Camp 26th of July Thursday. the wind blew Verry hard all Day from the South with Clouds of Sand wh...
Jul 27 1804
Clark: July 27, 1804
White Catfish Camp 10 ms above Platt 27th of July Friday, a Small Shower of rain this morning, at 10 oClock Comm...
Jul 27 1804
Lewis: July 27, 1804
white Catfish Camp July 27th Friday, Charged the Boat and Perogue after a Small Shower of rain, Completed our or...
Jul 29 1804
Clark: July 29, 1804
...and on the L. S. in a fiew minits Cought three verry large Catfish (3) one nearly white, Those fish are in great plenty on the Sides of the river and verry fat, a qu...
Jul 30 1804
Clark: July 30, 1804
...Drawing off my courses to accompany the map Drawn at White Catfish Camp, Capt. Lewis and my Self walked in the Prarie on the top of the Bluff and observed the most ...
Aug 12 1804
Clark: August 12, 1804
... are almost in Sight of the Mahar TownCought a verry Large Catfish this morniong, prepared the Indian present which we intend given to the Mahars. P. Wiser apt. Cook...
Aug 25 1804
Spirit Mound, South Dakota — Patrick Gass: August 25, 1804
catfish, that would together weigh three hundred pounds. The large catfish are caught in the Missouri with ...
Aug 29 1804
Spirit Mound, South Dakota — Patrick Gass: August 29, 1804
...oudy with some thunder. We are generally well supplied with Catfish, the best I have ever seen. Some large ones were taken last night. In the afternoon the men who had...
Sep 7 1806
Missouri River through Dakota territory — John Ordway: September 7, 1806
...as so high, the Hunters killed 4 Elk and caught three large catfish which was fat. towards evening the wind abated So that we procd on untill after Sunset and Camped o...
Sep 8 1806
Clark: September 8, 1806
...rs very well, and we arived at our old encampment at White Catfish Camp 12 miles above the river platt at which place we lay from the 22th to the 26th of July 1804 h...
Sep 17 1806
Missouri River through Kansas-Missouri area — Patrick Gass: September 17, 1806
..., but very warm. One of our party last night caught a large catfish, supposed to weigh 100 pounds. We got a great LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 287 many papaws on our...
Sep 18 1806
Missouri River through Kansas-Missouri area — Patrick Gass: September 18, 1806
... ment, Cape Cape Swell, see Swell, Cape Catarack river, 215 Catfish, 20, 22, 24, 286 Cathlama Indians, their characteristics, customs, and dress, 204 Cathlama village,...

Our Partners