Impossible to say what your doing wrong without seeing it. Here's what you need to do. (1) Get good minnows for bait, preferably emeralds. (2) use your electronics so you know there are fish under you. (3) use sensitive graphite rods with braid so you can feel the bite. (4) if your not getting bites, move to another spot. (5) keep your weight on the bottom unless you are using spreaders. Drop spreader to the bottom and raise up a crank or two. I fish with 2 rods and hold them to feel the ticks of the bite. That also lets me cushion the wave action to keep my weights from lifting off the bottom.
The most important thing about perch fishing is pay attention to details. Watch your rod tips and feel what's going on. Hope this helps.