2026 Rapala BASS Pro Series | Nomad Glenbawn Dam Boater Winner's Interview w/ Mitchell Cone

Mitchell Cone put local knowledge and precision jerkbait fishing to work to claim victory in the Nomad sponsored round of the 2026 Rapala BASS Pro Series at Glenbawn Dam. Fishing on his home water, Cone said the tough May conditions actually suited his style, allowing skill and decision-making to shine through rather than relying on a random “smash fest” bite. Cone’s preparation included fishing a tournament on Glenbawn the weekend before the event, giving him valuable time on the water to study fish movement and seasonal patterns. While the exact spots from pre-fish didn’t produce during the tournament, the overall pattern remained the same and helped him build a winning strategy. His winning setup revolved around a jerkbait approach using a Millerods Bass Freak XH rod paired with a Jackall Squirrel 61 in Pink Eye colour. Cone targeted the tops of trees, laydowns and wind buffered structure, rotating through a series of marked laydowns across the lake multiple times each day. He explained that the fish living tight to timber were aggressive ambush feeders, but changing wind conditions heavily influenced how willing they were to bite. A major part of Cone’s success came through his use of live sonar technology. Running an Garmin LVS34 transducer on the trolling motor, he focused heavily on watching fish behaviour and lure tracking in real time. This allowed him to adjust retrieve speed, pauses and cadence depending on how fish reacted throughout the session. The win not only delivered Cone another major ABT qualifier victory, but also secured his place in the Grand Final, where he’ll now compete for the ultimate prize of a Boat, Motor & Trailer package back on Glenbawn Dam in October.