I grew up fishing the Little Red River in Arkansas, when they were not generating we always used salmon eggs, corn, or wax worms, sometimes threw a small marshmellow on there. Never used a float. I am sure it would work with one, but the water is mostly shallow and really clear there.
When the water was moving I would just use a small spoon or spinner.
almost forgot about corn...used that a bunch too in addition to nightcrawlers and salmon eggs.