Should surface plugs float?
 

I have had good luck with sinking spooks, poppers and howdy/ballerinas.
Are commercial ones made to float to please fisherman?
I find fish are willing to take a plug that looks like an injured fish struggling below the surface even when they will not hit one on top.

A surface plug doesn't need to float, it just needs the ability to be worked on the surface. Polais poppers are the perfect example.

the real trick
 

is to get them to suspend just below the surface...

and a quick flip of the rod can get it up on top...

thats the magic of a sluggo if its ... weighted right.

the slow ....rate of fall triggers many strikes

I like poppers to be almost neutral boyant to just barely sinking. I can keep that kind on top but can't get a floater to sink a little which i sometimes like so i can break the surface with it when I jerk the line. I'm thinking poppers.