Old 86 Night Tournament Report (July 8, 2026) — Table Rock Lake

Coy Hines breaks down tonight's Old 86 night tournament on Table Rock — where the fish are setting up after dark, the lures to have tied on, and a look at last week's results.

Tonight's Old 86 — What to Expect

The Old 86 Wednesday night tournament is back on Table Rock. Coy is dialing in the night-bite pattern — fish are pulling onto main-lake points, channel swings, and bluff ends as the sun drops, then sliding up shallow as it gets dark. Find bait on your graph at the end of light, and the fish won't be far behind once it cools off.

Night-Bite Pattern on Table Rock

• Black/blue jig — bluff ends, chunk rock, and any laydowns near deep water. Drag it slow. Bigger jigs (1/2 to 3/4 oz) get bigger bites at night.
• 10-inch worm on a Texas rig — the all-night producer. Dark colors (plum, black/blue, junebug) on main-lake points. Slow drag, long pauses on the bottom.
• Lit boat docks — bait stacks under the lights, fish follow. Pitch a jig or a small swimbait right to the shadow line.

Lures & Techniques

Black Jig — Bluff Ends & Chunk Rock

A 1/2 oz black/blue jig with a craw trailer is the kicker bait at night. Work bluff ends, transitions, and laydowns close to deep water. Drag it slow, let it pendulum on the way down, and don't be afraid to deadstick on a hard ledge.

10-Inch Worm — Texas-Rigged on the Points

The bread-and-butter night bait: a 10-inch power worm Texas-rigged with a 3/8 to 1/2 oz tungsten weight. Plum, black/blue, and junebug are the colors that earn their keep. Cast to the point, drag it down the slope, long pause on every contact point.

Tournament Setup & Gear

• Rod (worm/jig): 7'2" to 7'4" medium-heavy with a fast tip.
• Rod (spinnerbait): 7' medium-heavy moderate-fast — the give helps fish stick at night.
• Reel: 7:1 baitcaster for slack pickup and quick repositioning between casts.
• Line: 15–17 lb fluorocarbon (worm/jig); 17–20 lb mono or copoly on spinnerbait/buzz.
• Light: dim red/green nav-friendly headlamp — preserve your night vision and your partner's.

Old 86 Schedule & Sign-Up

The Old 86 runs Wednesday nights out of Old Highway 86 ramp on Table Rock. Stop by the shop in Nixa earlier in the day to grab tackle, get the latest from Wes on what's working, and load up before you launch.

Need night-bite gear before tonight? Everything Coy throws is at the shop in Nixa or online at Modern Outdoor Tackle. Stop in and ask for Wes — he knows what colors are working and what we have in stock.