Fish Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/species-type/fish/ A digital archive of treaties, documents, artwork, and 360° trail panoramas from the Corps of Discovery Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:44:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Chinook Salmon https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/chinook-salmon/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:37 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/chinook-salmon/ Lewis and Clark first encountered massive runs of chinook salmon near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in mid-October 1805. Clark was confused by the enormous numbers of dead salmon lining the riverbanks,...

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]]> Lewis and Clark first encountered massive runs of chinook salmon near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in mid-October 1805. Clark was confused by the enormous numbers of dead salmon lining the riverbanks, writing “The Cause of the emence numbers of dead Salmon I can’t account for” — he was witnessing the post-spawning die-off. Salmon were a critical food source traded from Native peoples throughout the Columbia Basin. The chinook is the largest Pacific salmon species.

Journal Excerpt

Clark, October 16, 1805: "Took our Canoes and all baggage over by land to the other Side of the rapid, and down to the river… I observe great numbers of dead Salmon on the Shores and floating in the water. The Cause of the emence numbers of dead Salmon I can't account for."

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]]> White Sturgeon https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/white-sturgeon/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:36 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/white-sturgeon/ Lewis and Clark encountered the white sturgeon in the Columbia River region during their winter at Fort Clatsop in 1805-1806. The white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America, capable of reaching 20...

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]]> As the largest freshwater fish in North America, white sturgeon can reach twice the 10-foot length reported by Clark.

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]]> Steelhead Trout https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/steelhead-trout/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:36 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/steelhead-trout/ Lewis and Clark encountered steelhead (which they called "salmon trout") at multiple points along the Columbia River system. Lewis described the species in detail, noting it resembled salmon but was "not so large." The expedition...

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]]> Sea-run rainbow trout silvery in color. Introduced for sport and commercial fishing. Many native populations threatened.

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]]> Blue Catfish https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/blue-catfish/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:36 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/blue-catfish/ Lewis and Clark observed blue catfish in mid-November 1803, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, before the main expedition departed. They later encountered the species in the lower Missouri River. The blue...

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

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]]> Channel Catfish https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/channel-catfish/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:36 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/channel-catfish/ On July 24, 1804, near present-day Bellevue, Nebraska, Private Goodrich caught a channel catfish. Clark described it as having "eyes Small & tale much like that of a Dolfin." The channel catfish was commonly encountered...

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]]> Common in rivers of central states. Corps’ ”White Catfish Camp” named for several large fish caught here, July 1804.

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]]> Starry Flounder https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/starry-flounder/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:36 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/starry-flounder/ Lewis and Clark encountered the starry flounder in the Columbia River estuary during their winter at Fort Clatsop. This flatfish, distinctive for its star-shaped tubercles on its body, was a common species in the coastal...

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]]> Found in Columbia Estuary. Lewis dismissed as “same with those of Atlantic Coast” and did not describe in detail.

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]]> Westslope Cutthroat Trout https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/westslope-cutthroat-trout/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:35 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/westslope-cutthroat-trout/ On June 13, 1805, Private Silas Goodrich caught several cutthroat trout at the Great Falls of the Missouri River, providing the first scientific description of this species by any Anglo-American. Lewis described the trout in...

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]]> On June 13, 1805, Private Silas Goodrich caught several cutthroat trout at the Great Falls of the Missouri River, providing the first scientific description of this species by any Anglo-American. Lewis described the trout in detail, noting their black specks (different from the red or gold of eastern brook trout) and the distinctive red slash marks under the jaw. The species was later named Salmo clarkii in honor of William Clark by naturalist John Richardson in 1836.

Journal Excerpt

Lewis, June 13, 1805: "Goodrich had caught half a dozen very fine trout… these trout are from sixteen to twenty three inches in length, precisely resemble our mountain or speckled trout in form and the position of their fins, but the specks on these are of a deep black instead of the red or goald colour of those common to the U' States. these are furnished long sharp teeth on the pallet and tongue and have generally a small dash of red on each side behind the front ventral fins."

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]]> Eulachon https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/eulachon/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:35 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/eulachon/ On February 24, 1806, Clatsop chief Coboway brought the first eulachon to Fort Clatsop, marking the beginning of the annual spring run of this important food fish. Lewis drew a detailed likeness of the fish...

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]]> On February 24, 1806, Clatsop chief Coboway brought the first eulachon to Fort Clatsop, marking the beginning of the annual spring run of this important food fish. Lewis drew a detailed likeness of the fish and recorded it as approximately 8 1/8 inches long. The eulachon was so oil-rich that Native peoples dried them and used them as candles, hence the common name “candlefish.” Lewis’s description and drawing constitute the first scientific documentation of this species.

Journal Excerpt

Lewis, February 24, 1806: "the Clatsop Chief Coboway and his wife came to the fort selling a species of small fish which now begin to run, and are taken in great quantities in the Columbia R. about 40 miles above us by means of skiming or scooping nets… I have drawn the likeness of them as large as life; it as perfect as I can make it with my pen, and will serve to give a general idea of the fish."

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