I ‘ve been getting steady reports about giant perch in Lake Cascade this winter. The numbers of fish coming out of the reservoir may not be massive, but the sizes sure are. There’s been a steady stream of perch over a foot long, and some exceeding 15 inches. Guess what? The state record is 15.5-inches, 2-pounds, 9.6-ounces, and it has stood since 1976. It was taken from Wilson Lake Reservoir east of Twin Falls, and no, I hadn’t heard of it, either.

But that’s old news. Too old, if you ask me. There’s been a rash of new state records set in the last few years, and it’s always fun to see. It adds an element of excitement knowing the biggest fish ever caught in the state could be swimming beneath your feet. That could be the case in Cascade.

“We think we’ve got one swimming around out there,” said Tom McGlashen at Tackle Tom’s in Cascade.

Conditions aren’t ideal on the reservoir right now. There’s a thick layer of ice, but snow and rain have created a lot of slush. That doesn’t make the most comfortable fishing conditions when you’re standing in ankle-deep slush. But like everything else this winter, things can change fast, and a few cold nights can firm things up.

So this isn’t exactly a “go there now” report, but it’s something to think about. Not only do you have a chance to catch a tasty perch dinner, you might get your name in the record books.

Photos update: I’ve been getting a lot fish photos lately that I can’t use, so here’s a quick reminder about submitting them. First, cell phones are not your friend unless they shoot a high resolution photo. Please use a real camera. Second, don’t wait until you get home. I don’t run photos shot in the kitchen, garage or your driveway. I like to see smiling faces, especially kids, with fish straight out of the water. But I can’t run grainy, out-of-focus shots even if your youngster is beaming with pride over his or her prized catch. Send photos to outdoors@idahostatesman.com.