there is no worries about the ice noise it's just the ice expanding.as far as finding perch you should try fishing 6 to 8 ft of water if you can find pockets in the weeds or the outside weed lines then you should find some perch willing to play nice for you. try a small jig head with a meal worm or a w4 jiggin rap. the perch that i caught were burpin up scuds(tiny shrimp like bugs) hope this helps. as far as structure, rock piles and underwater brush can produce perch as well. good luck
