If the perch are biting hard, i use a spreader. Otherwise, and sometimes anyhow, what I do is this:

Put a swivel on the line. Put a sinker on the swivel. Get some of those plastic in-line slip fit thingies that you thread a loop into on one side, your hook on a leader on the other. If you don't know what I mean, I can post pics. Anyhow, put one about 8" above the sinker, so the minnow will be right near the bottom. Put a second so it's about a foot off the bottom, give or take.

This provides a more sensitive feel than a spreader, lets you keep the sinker right on the bottom, and lets you figure out where the fish are biting- tight to the bottom or a tad off.

Another good approach is to put the sinker on about a 1 foot leader, on the swivel, and put the perch hook about on a similar length leader, but with a small in-line Styrofoam float near the hook, so it stays off the bottom. These are available in a variety of colors and if the water is murkey, sometimes helps.