Eric - If you do not have fish pellet traied perch then don't expect to see the perch very often. They do not behave like bgill and bass. Perch typically hang out in deeper water. Seeing minnows in the shallows is a good sign because the perch are possibly pushing the minnows into shallow water for a refuge area. Minnows will often stay in deeper water esp when no predators are present.
When the water gets 48F-55F try fishing for them with a No 10 hook and small piece of worm under a thin bobber. Or set a wire mesh minnnow trap. You should get a few either way.
