Sounds like it's worth a try to me. Springers are real suckers for fresh bait. You could probably use some of your herring add a little shrimp, roll it up into a spawn sack and float fish it also.
Speaking of springers and float fishing, I've got to share. I have gone up to the Vedder quite a few times and seen guys using nothing but multi colored yarn (see the article in the last STS by Dave Vedder) below a float and just hammer em. Combo's of pink, forrest green (not chartruese) red and sometimes yellow. Alomost always at least 3 colors. This is really finesse float fishing as the springers just mouth it and let it go, very few bobber takedowns or even wiggles sometimes. Cheap, easy and worth a try.

------------------
Handle them with care