I can catch perch pretty good through the ice, but I am horible at catching trout, throught the ice or in the summer.  Will some of you guys help me out with some tips please. 

We have lakes here( forest preserve) they stock spring and fall. i have done very well with fatheads(med) minnows 3' under a float before the ice came,i do not ice fish but i've read reports up here they are still pulling them thru the ice on live baits

It is illegal here to use live minnows.  I am going out here pretty soon. I have nightcrawlers, meal worms, jar of dyed shrimp, salmon eggs, power bait and flavored marshmallows.  hopefully I can find a combo that works.

the very small ice fishing jigs tipped with mealworm works pretty good too

It is illegal here to use live minnows.

Can you catch minnows from the lake your fishing to use?

is that a state wide law or just some lakes

state wide law, minnows must killed as soon as they are caught.  Does not matter if you are using them on the same body of water.

My favorite is a Swedish Pimple.  Many other jigging spoons will work, like Hopkins Spoons, Kastmasters, or any other fluttering spoon.

Larger teardrops can work as well.  Maybe even one of my favorite steelhead baits which is a small pinkie jig.  Any of these will take a variety of baits to sweeten them up.

I have not tried jigging for trout, I will have to give it a try.