I think I read somewhere that this is great time of year for perch because they go on a ravenous feeding frenzy just before they spawn, so get out there asap, I had a 3lb 2oz and a 2lb 11oz on wednesday..
Personally I dont know much about lake perch fishing as all mine is done on my river.. I think the ultimate perch bait has got to be a big fat ole worm.. If your lake has a steep shelf, getting deep quick, try float fishing the worm, but be sure to get the depth right as perch quite often take the hook right down, so dont delay on the strike.. try chucking a good few handfuls of maggots or bread crumb around the float to bring in the smal silvers.. look for cover if possible, over hanging trees n such.. dawn n dusk are good times..
I would always check to see if theres pike in the water before usning lives or deads, use a wire trace if so.. If not, I would stick with mono or fluoro..
If the bites are slow on the worm, try popping it up just off the bottom by injecting air into the head end, hooking it in the tail end.. be careful when you do this though.. talk to your local shop owner about it before you do it..
If you want to ledger, I would try n get away with as little weight as possible, just enough to cast out to where you want to be, and no more. I would either put the weight on with a running ledger, or swan shot on a paternoster, make that link a few inches though, about 5 or so, putting it about a foot behind the hook though..
Having said all this though, I wouldnt clas myself as a perch expert, so just take all this as stuff I would do if I was going for them.. take it or leave it..
Good luck n hope you get one.
Matt