Mark Bartlett is a fan of targeting an island or far-bank margin believing they can bring huge dividends on modern commercial venues - here's The Bartman's guide to success...

With the huge number of commercial carp waters up and down the country – and I mean those which were perhaps previously match fisheries or those constructed along similar lines in terms of shape and size – traditional big-pit tactics don’t always come into play. Often, an altogether different plan of attack is needed and, even more likely, accuracy of bait placement if often key.

Very often on these smaller waters, the features which are actually visible are the ones where you can have success, whereas most gravel pit features, for example, will be beneath the surface.

Islands and far margins are the most obvious features on commercials and anglers rightly target them in a bid to find resident or patrolling carp. However, it’s not just a matter of seeing an island and casting somewhere near to it. Your success rate can often depend on a little more thought and skill than that.

Below: Fishing the right area on a far margin is essential.

There are three key stages to fishing island margins, in my opinion...