I have always used Mustad snelled hooks. Sizes from the smaller #30 up to the #26's. They swallow the 30's pretty easy though. As for the release of the fish. I deeper perch waters the fish have the air sack come up into the mouth. The only way I have heard to give the small perch a chance is to pop a small hole in the air sack and that lets the fish go back down relatively unhurt. The hole would heal shut in time. I have never tried this method yet to see if it makes a difference or not. The small perch as most of us see will flop around on the surface and pull in a few gulls for lunch of perch.
A small percentage will shoot right back down unhurt. Thats why I like the # 26 Mustads. They usually get the mouth and not that deep. These hooks are a fine wire and very sharp. Cost is low so they are a good one to stock up on.
Like $ 1.69 a pack of 6. The deeper water you fish in the more you will see the air sacks come up and they will spit out minnows at the same time.