Being sort of an ice fishing newbie, how does a person find those hidden rock piles, structure changes, ect. that aren't on the lake maps?

In a boat before the ice season. Sometimes asking at bait stores might work.

I would say in a boat as well. Also, those with cameras can probably find the spots as well by drilling a lot of holes

Drill, Drill, Drill Baby. I will mark things in the boat in summer, but usually by the time I get them punched in the GPS, I am off the spot anyways, so they are more of a reference point than anything.

How about the Humminbird side imaging? Does that work and would it reveal these hidden spots?

it would, but you would need to be fairly close. With that said, if you kind of know where some structure is, you could sure home in a sweet spot with side imaging.

I recently used the side imaging unit and i was speech less! its an amazing tool for the boat and worth the money if you got it. the picture quality is amazing! i went through the middle of two pionts last sunday had the beam length set for i think 140' both sides. and it was two rock points and it was amazing!!!! I'm still learning the unit for somethings but it's awsome.

like riverrat said, its all about the drilling, a nice sharp auger and that vexi or aquaview is what you need to do, light that ice up like swiss cheese.