Small Spring tinca tinca

I went back to my favourite tench pond on thursday, as spring is here - though it felt like the middle of winter with the wind chill. I was float fishing near an artificial island, i think this acts as a fish refuge against any cormorants (not that i've seen any on this pond), however it seems to attract tench and my best tinca to date came from the very spot. Anyway, I float fished maggot tight to the island using 2lb 8oz drennan double strength and a size 18 super spade, shotted right down to a pin prick on the surface. Rod was a drennan float master in 13ft (great tool) and drennan series 7 float reel finished the tackle. The action was slow going, I only managed a small roach (which showed evidence of black spot?) and a gudgeon. However, the tell tale lift of the float showed a potential tench and i struck into solid resistance, but it was short lived. A small tench of under 2lb graced the net, the first tench of the year - it's always good to catch a spring tench, and hopefully the first of many.