Lifestyle
NBA Star Steph Curry Endorses Kamala Harris at DNC
![NBA Star Steph Curry Endorses Kamala Harris at DNC NBA Star Steph Curry Endorses Kamala Harris at DNC](https://imagez.tmz.com/image/73/16by9/2024/08/23/73eeb538a4074cecbc500d2a8e0762ae_xl.jpg)
6:02 PM PT — Steph‘s video endorsement just played at the DNC … and he says Harris is right for the Oval Office because she will unite America and move the country forward.
![082224-steph-curry-kal](https://imagez.tmz.com/image/69/16by9/2024/08/23/69db43ae41dd4fd7903fd4f778deb985_md.jpg)
Wearing his gold medal from Paris, Steph explained why he believes Harris is the right choice for president in 2024 … calling on folks to hit the polls in November like never before.
Kamala Harris is about to pick up an endorsement from an American hero … Steph Curry!!!
The NBA star, who just led Team USA to a gold medal in basketball at the Paris Olympics, is going to endorse Harris for president with a surprise video message that will air Thursday during the Democratic National Convention … DNC officials tell TMZ.
Curry’s got a few connections to Harris … they hung out this summer when Team USA was in Las Vegas preparing for the Olympics … and Steph’s played his entire NBA career for the Golden State Warriors, the home team for the San Francisco Bay Area and Oakland … where Kamala was born and where she served as District Attorney.
Steph’s NBA coach, Steve Kerr, previously gave a speech at this week’s DNC in Chicago … when he referenced his star player’s signature celebration as a way to troll Donald Trump.
Kerr, who coached Curry to four NBA championships with Warriors and was the head coach of this year’s Olympic team, raved about Kamala and her running mate, Tim Walz, for most of his nearly 10-minute speech and then ended with a shot at Trump.
“In the words of the great Steph Curry,” Kerr said just before he put his hands in the shape of a pillow, “we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night!’”
It will be interesting to see what Steph has to say about the Harris-Walz ticket.
Stay tuned …
Originally Published — 5:30 PM PT
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Lifestyle
As 'Late Night' loses its band, we rank the best groups ever on late night TV
![As 'Late Night' loses its band, we rank the best groups ever on late night TV As 'Late Night' loses its band, we rank the best groups ever on late night TV](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/1400/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F58%2Fddb605a849d79b21d0827711ba63%2Fgettyimages-474715097.jpg)
The 8G Band on February 24, 2014 — the very first episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers. Left to right: Eli Janney, Fred Armisen, Kim Thompson, Syd Butler and Seth Jabour.
Peter Kramer/NBC/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Peter Kramer/NBC/Getty Images
When producers at Late Night with Seth Meyers told keyboardist and associate musical director Eli Janney the show would eliminate its live backing group, The 8G Band, due to budget cuts, he wasn’t all that surprised.
“This was a moment, honestly, we all saw coming,” said Janney, who made his name as a bassist and keyboardist for the indie rock band Girls Against Boys – and as a producer with artists like James Blunt – before musical director Fred Armisen asked him to join Late Night’s backing group in 2014.
Janney says Armisen was looking to bring an indie rock band into the world of late night TV.
Along with Janney on keyboards and Armisen on guitar, they had Seth Jabour on guitar, Marnie Stern on guitar, Syd Butler on bass and Kimberly Thompson on drums. But when Armisen’s performing career took off, he wound up leaving Janney in charge – returning for short stints as a guest drummer several times a year.
![Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show in February, hosting once per week.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2001x2001+209+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F01%2F5c%2Fc74c17b6449986ef005b89279b98%2Fjonstewart-photocredit-mattwilson.jpg)
![Questlove And The Roots: How A Hip-Hop Band Conquered Late Night](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/07/03/frankie-quest-blackthought_sq-d0cb1aaf1d6cb820b467a34372d7ca797772ce12.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg)
“About six months into the show, [Armisen] was like, ‘Hey I have to go work on the next season of Portlandia, I should be back in about 30 days,” Janney said, laughing. “And then he just never came back [full time].”
Thompson and Stern eventually left the band, and 8G began playing with a succession of guest drummers, including Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain, Styx’s Todd Sucherman and Queens of the Stone Age’s Jon Theodore. Janney said they likely performed with over 300 drummers; Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters was on their schedule to appear when he died in 2022.
The group’s last appearance in a new episode is Thursday, with Armisen back playing drums for their final week. Ironically, Janney and Armisen were just nominated for an Emmy this year for best musical direction.
“I think we knew broadcast TV was shrinking in general…[and] there’s just a limit to how many people are watching after 12:30 [a.m.] at night on broadcast,” he added. “Everybody’s moving to streaming. But I thought we had a couple more years, at least.”
When I caught up with Janney on a Zoom call last week, he was philosophical and relatively upbeat, stressing that producers and star Seth Meyers had fought to keep the band. Instead, they’ll pre-record music that the show can use in future episodes.
Looking back on more late-night bands worth remembering
As a musician and late night TV nerd, I have an accompanying obsession with the bands who back the shows, and I’ve seen lots of them live. Late night bands often embody and amplify the tone of a show – Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show had a rollicking, old school big band, while Jimmy Fallon’s version has the urbane cool of rap/soul/funk stars The Roots.
Now that 8G joins the ranks of bands of the past, I’m reflecting on more late night bands that have – or will one day – go down in history. Here’s a list of the best.
#1: The World’s Most Dangerous Band/CBS Orchestra
Late Night with David Letterman (NBC) and The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
YouTube
This group was squarely in my generation – a band I was hooked on from their early days with Letterman on NBC in the mid 1980s, right up until his retirement on CBS in 2015. It began as a hip four piece packed with the best session musicians in New York, including drummer Steve Jordan (now with the Rolling Stones), bassist Will Lee and often-barefoot guitarist Hiram Bullock, led by keyboardist and Saturday Night Live alum Paul Shaffer. Their stripped-down, funky sound was a welcome change from Carson’s massive, more traditional jazz band. Over the years, the group evolved into a much larger unit with two guitar players and a horn section; P-Funk keyboard legend Bernie Worrell even played with them for a time. And the band was capable of everything from skin-tight backing of James Brown to including guest musicians like David Sanborn and trading quips with Letterman himself.
“I watched them all the time…and just felt like they were on another level from what I was doing,” Janney said. “Also, they seemed to be having the best f—ing time. It wasn’t uptight at all.”
#2: The NBC Orchestra
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC)
YouTube
So many of the traditions we associate with late night TV and music started with Carson’s big band, from a flashy, signature theme song to a group packed with ace musicians – like jazz trumpeters Clark Terry and Snooky Young. Trumpeter Carl “Doc” Severinsen led the group, wearing flashy clothes and bantering with Carson while occasionally leading bits like “Stump the Band,” where audience members tried to name songs they couldn’t play.
#3: The Roots
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
YouTube
It may have seemed odd to some for a rap band from Philadelphia to join Late Night when SNL alum Fallon took over the show from Conan O’Brien in 2009. But it made perfect sense to me – bringing a modern, genre-blending attitude to the show while featuring one of the best bands in any category. And their “Slow Jam the News” segments are still a classic. Still, NBC took a little while to agree: bandleader Questlove told me they were originally signed to a succession of 13-week contracts, in case the network decided to make a change quickly.
#4: Jon Batiste and Stay Human
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
YouTube
No shade to current Colbert bandleader/guitarist Louis Cato – an amazing multi-instrumentalist who I first saw playing drums with David Sanborn, George Duke and Marcus Miller years ago – but the first version of Colbert’s band led by piano prodigy Batiste was a breath of fresh, innovative air. The band, which Batiste had put together with classmates from Julliard well before they landed on Colbert‘s show, effortlessly moved from jazz and R&B to pop and even classical – with a cool way of playing while walking through the audience that recalled the Second Line marching bands from Batiste’s native New Orleans.
#5: David Sanborn and friends
Sunday Night/Night Music (NBC)
YouTube
Executive produced by SNL showrunner Lorne Michaels, this show was an offbeat experiment which aired for two seasons beginning in 1988, featuring the late jazz saxophonist Sanborn and co-host Jools Holland with a band of ace backing musicians, performing with a wide array of different artists in one show. Bassist Marcus Miller (Miles Davis/Luther Vandross) was the musical director, with guitarist Hiram Bullock, drummer Omar Hakim (Sting/David Bowie), keyboardist Philippe Saisse and many more. Sanborn loved to bring different types of musicians together, having jazzers Carla Bley and Steve Swallow perform with funk master Bootsy Collins. And the band’s rocking take on “See the Light” with Jeff Healey remains one of my favorite performances by the late guitar god.
Lifestyle
How to watch sports when your team is slumping
![How to watch sports when your team is slumping How to watch sports when your team is slumping](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3003x1688+0+0/resize/1400/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3c%2F2d%2Fbf81952e49f9a59604f58ec673cc%2Fgettyimages-2164062678.jpg)
Austin Hays of the Philadelphia Phillies slides in safely past Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees on July 31, 2024. The Yankees defeated the Phillies 6-5 that day.
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
In the middle of July — only a month ago! — I wrote about how much fun it was to watch baseball, and in particular how much fun it was to watch the Philadelphia Phillies, the team of my youth and heart. I talked about it with A Martinez on Morning Edition too, telling people to watch lots of baseball, and if they needed a team to root for, they could root for mine, which at the time had the best record in baseball. That was at the All-Star break.
And then a funny thing happened: They lost 16 of their next 25 games.
They lost to good teams, and very good teams, and bad teams, and very bad teams. They got beat by a little and by a lot. They were swept by the Yankees, which was a grievous mental injury to me personally. They lost one of those Yankee games in extra innings, and then a few days later, they lost in extra innings again, this time to the Seattle Mariners. Their best hitters went ice-cold; their best pitchers went wobbly; their bullpen went from confidence-inspiring to anxiety-inducing.
As I write this on Friday afternoon, however, they have won two games in a row. Is that a lot of games? Not necessarily; not to the cold and objective eye. But these two games have had, for lack of a better word, some pepper. The Wednesday night game against the Marlins got off to a lousy start: The Marlins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Phillies came back with two — but then the Marlins scored two more in the fourth inning, making it 5-2, a setback just when things had been looking up.
But! The Phillies loaded the bases in the fifth for their beloved slugger, Kyle Schwarber, who was at the time 0 for his last 16. He connected with the ball, announcer John Kruk (who was once their slugger himself) hissed “YES!”, and the grand slam sailed over the wall. It was 6-5. They added three more later and won 9-5. It wasn’t just the win; it was the comeback. There is something about fight and hope that is perhaps more inspiring during a slump than an easy win.
![Kyle Schwarber, center, celebrates his grand slam with Nick Castellanos, left, and J.T. Realmuto against the Miami Marlins on Aug. 14, 2024.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5885x3923+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F29%2F25%2F07e6e596415091e69e2bdb9402be%2Fgettyimages-2166189846.jpg)
Kyle Schwarber, center, celebrates his grand slam with Nick Castellanos, left, and J.T. Realmuto against the Miami Marlins on Aug. 14, 2024.
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
But let’s be honest — easy wins are nice, too, like the Thursday game against the Washington Nationals. The Phillies scored four runs in the first inning and just kept adding, eventually winning by a commanding 13-3. It wasn’t just the win, though: 29-year-old rookie Weston Wilson, a guy I had practically never heard of before he was called up in July, hit for the cycle. That means he hit a single, a double, a triple and a home run. It was only the 10th time a Phillies player had done it, and the first time a Phillies rookie had.
![Weston Wilson, center, after a victory over the Washington Nationals on Aug. 15, 2024.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6912x4608+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2Ffd%2Fca182c754209a388e0430e0b7d76%2Fap24229637210872.jpg)
Weston Wilson, center, after a victory over the Washington Nationals on Aug. 15, 2024.
Derik Hamilton/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Derik Hamilton/AP
Some people believe a true fan will watch every game from beginning to end, no matter what. I do not subscribe to that view. When games got ugly or out of hand, I followed them on my phone, keeping a watchful eye while not subjecting myself to too much misery. (I did watch that extra-innings loss to the Yankees, which is all the misery anyone could need for one season.) But I remained hopeful and ready to come back.
And on Thursday night, when Weston Wilson — whose name I am still mastering — hit for the cycle, I was almost as excited for him as I would be if it were a guy I’ve watched for years. This is loving a team, after all. You don’t curse them, you don’t quit on them, you don’t pretend you know what would help when things are tough. You just keep waiting for the bright spots where you’re lucky instead of miserable, and where hitter after hitter contributes and makes it seem like the sun is coming out.
![Edmundo Sosa and Phillies teammate Brandon Marsh after a game against the New York Mets in May.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2958x2958+0+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2Fd3%2F44e5815445cb9804a1074b24c479%2Fgettyimages-2152578139.jpg)
You stay engaged. You get mad and despair. You pull yourself together. You put your team gear on and persevere. This is sports fan life; this is slump life. Maybe it’s just life.
This piece also appeared in NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss the next one, plus get weekly recommendations about what’s making us happy.
Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Lifestyle
The 4 best freshwater lakes in L.A. for floating, fishing and everything in between
![The 4 best freshwater lakes in L.A. for floating, fishing and everything in between The 4 best freshwater lakes in L.A. for floating, fishing and everything in between](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/279a3e9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1575+0+213/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2Fbd%2F7a53ced54a3d9d303de7b9a287ce%2Flat-weekend-la-county-lakes.jpg)
Nothing screams “summer” more than a day spent by the water. And Angelenos have many ways to access it, including a long coastline hugged by the Pacific, plenty of pools and refreshing swimming holes galore. But consider the local lake, an underrated option.
Unlike the ocean, the lake is a calm body of water. The only waves that exist there are created by passing boats. You can float in essentially one place without having to be worried about being carried out to sea. And if, like me, you have an irrational fear of sharks, lakes offer a swimming environment with few natural threats. A lake is one of the chillest bodies of water you can find outside your bathtub.
Growing up in Oklahoma, some of my fondest summer memories are of me and my cousins clutching an inner tube connected to the back of a boat as my uncle tugged us across a glistening lake, a pastime known as tubing. Perhaps it was sentimentality that led me to wonder: Where can I swim in a lake in L.A. County? Lucky for you, the answer lies below.
Here you’ll find a guide on how to have a great day at the best lakes in L.A. County, whether you’d like to swim, kayak, fish or otherwise adventure. Have a great time!
What to bring| Water quality | A guide to L.A. county lakes
What to bring to the lake in L.A. County
Before we dive into the best L.A. County lakes to visit, let’s first talk about how to have a great day at the lake.
For a swim day, it’s a lot like visiting the beach — you’ll want to bring sunscreen, shade, chairs, towels and floaties. Like most L.A. County beaches, grilling is not allowed on lake beaches. That said, some park picnic areas — including those a short walk from the lake — have barbecues, so grilling is still a possibility if you don’t mind traveling between the two spots.
It is essential to bring all the food, drinks and ice you’ll want for the day, as vendors have limited menus and aren’t always open. However, all the lakes on this list are a short drive from local restaurants. So you can either pack a picnic or grab food nearby.
Remember to leave the booze and bud at home. Alcohol and smoking are not allowed at any lake on this list.
Water quality at L.A. County lakes
In recent years, lakes in L.A. County have been plagued by harmful algal blooms that make their waters unsafe to swim in for both humans and dogs.
These blooms are often the worst in the summer when plentiful sunshine and warmer waters allow them to thrive, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. Sometimes, lake waters clear up in the winter, although Lake Elsinore in Riverside County and Lake Henshaw in San Diego County have historically had blooms all year, regulators said. L.A. County uses chlorinators at its three swimmable lakes (each of which is included below), which health officials say helps reduce the risk of harmful bacteria and blooms.
Before visiting a lake, you can check the state’s map where harmful algal blooms are tracked. State regulators use a three-tiered measurement system to gauge the presence of blooms in lakes.
The first is a “caution” advisory, which indicates visitors can swim but should stay away from algae and scum in the water. The next level is “warning,” where swimming is not allowed, and all fish caught from the lake must go through special preparation before being consumed to prevent illness. The third level is “danger,” which, means not only should you and your dog not swim at the lake in question, but you should also not eat anything that comes out of it, or use its water in any way. Even boiling it won’t make the water clean enough to use.
Lakes in L.A. County
L.A. County is home to many lakes. But this list prioritizes bodies of freshwater where you can swim, boat and fish, among many other activities. (That being said, I allowed for one honorable mention of a lake where you can’t swim but can appreciate its beauty.)
This list, unfortunately, doesn’t include Pyramid Lake because its waters have been persistently plagued by dangerous algal blooms season after season, year after year. State regulators advised not swimming there this summer.
That includes canines. Dogs are allowed to swim at Pyramid Lake. But you shouldn’t allow them near its waters until the toxic algal blooms are cleared up, since dogs can become ill and die from drinking tainted water.
Armed with that safety information, I enjoyed swimming in these lakes’ cool waters and relaxing on their sandy beaches. It was also nice that, unlike the lakes from my childhood, the bottom of each lake’s swim area was clean — no grimy, slimy stuff lingering here! I hope you make great memories at the locations below.
Puddingstone Lake
Puddingstone Lake is a 250-acre man-made lake in San Dimas’ Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, an 1,800-acre expanse where you can swim, bike, camp, fish, sail and more.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
Puddingstone Lake is a 250-acre man-made lake in San Dimas’ Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, an 1,800-acre expanse where you can swim, bike, camp, fish, sail and more.
The beach area where you can swim is roped off from the rest of the lake island. Floating there in the lake’s cool waters, you can listen to the sounds of children playing and the light splashes of dedicated lap swimmers, and appreciate the uniquely Southern California view of the San Gabriel Mountains to the north.
While swimming, you might also notice planes coming to and from Brackett Field Airport, which sits on the northeast corner of the lake. (Because of its proximity to the airport, you aren’t allowed to fly kites, drones or model airplanes there.)
Near the swim beach sits the park’s Picnic Valley, where you can enjoy a leisurely meal with friends and family on the manicured grass, at a table or beneath a pavilion.
The privately operated Bonelli Bluffs RV Resort and Campground offers camping nearby. For a fun family weekend excursion, you could spend a day at the lake, camp and then head over the next day to Raging Waters Los Angeles, which sits northwest of the lake and bills itself as California’s largest water park. Mountain Meadows Golf Course is also nearby, if you want to get a few holes in.
Fishing is allowed with a valid California fishing license for all anglers 16 and older. You just have to do it around the lake, outside of its sand beaches, boat docks or within 100 feet of any boat launch ramp. Catch limits include five trout and 10 catfish.
Unlike some bodies of water on this list, the park surrounding Puddingstone Lake has many excellent hiking opportunities within its 14 miles of multiuse trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Nearby Antonovich Trail, a popular trek for locals, meanders along a babbling Walnut Creek, shaded by fig, coast live oak and eucalyptus trees. It takes about four minutes to drive from the trailhead to the entrance of Bonelli park, where you can quickly reach the swim beach.
You can also explore the lake by kayak or paddleboard. You can rent kayaks, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and bikes by the hour from Wheel Fun Rentals. (Just make sure you do your research on pricing, hours and rules before you go.)
Santa Fe Dam reservoir
![A view of Santa Fe Lake](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6381edb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3610x2708+0+0/resize/1200x900!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fe7%2F7e6f626d4056ba2de419b625d2d0%2Fme-guide-to-visiting-the-best-lakes-in-l-a-county-santa-fe-lake-06.jpg)
The Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area’s 836 acres include a 70-acre man-made lake that’s open year-round for fishing and non-motorized watercraft.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
Completed in 1949, the Santa Fe dam and reservoir is a 2,600-acre property created to manage the flood risk to cities along the San Gabriel River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees about 1,300 acres of it for, I don’t know, dam stuff? But the part relevant to this guide, dear reader, is the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area. Its 836 acres include a 70-acre man-made lake that’s open year-round for fishing and non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks. Boats with small electric motors are allowed as long as they don’t exceed 5 mph.
Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
It’s easiest to reach the swim beach by parking in lot No. 3. Upon arrival, you might notice families lounging in hammocks, or picnicking at nearby tables. From the swim area’s sandy beach, you can dip into its cool waters while gazing north at the clear views of several peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains, including Mt. Baldy. The park has a short nature walk, but no lengthy hiking trails. The San Gabriel River Trail, a 35.4-mile path, runs past the dam.
If you want to travel around the lake in style, rent a surrey bike, which Wheel Fun Rentals calls a “modern day carriage.” The company rents a single, double and, yes, triple surrey bike (described by Wheel Fun as the “undisputed limousine of bikes,” a label I cannot argue against). The mode of transportation is an especially good opportunity for parents to horrify their teenagers. But, don’t worry, the company also rents recumbent trikes, pedal boats and kayaks.
Fishing is allowed with a valid license. The lake is seasonally stocked with bass, rainbow trout and catfish.
The park is sometimes closed for special events, so it can be helpful to call ahead. Also, take note that the annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire is held at the park in April and May, making parking potentially challenging.
Castaic Lake
![Castaic Lake](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/58503b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2F3d%2Fbb8b6be74547aba6725b4047791f%2Fme-guide-to-visiting-the-best-lakes-in-l-a-county-castaic-lake-10.jpg)
The Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is a 12,658-acre wonderland about 45 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is a 12,658-acre wonderland about 45 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Built like an infinity pool for giants, Castaic Lake is separated into two bodies of water by a 425-foot high dam. The main, or upper, lake has almost 30 miles of shoreline and is where gas-powered boats zip along.
The lower lake, which has about two miles of shoreline, is where you can swim. Kayaks are allowed as well as boats with small electric motors as long as they don’t exceed 5 mph.
Near the swim beach, there’s also a large inflatable water park with more than 35 obstacles, otherwise known as Cali Splash Park. The park is open Thursdays through Sundays until Sept. 15.
Record-setting fish have been reeled in on Castaic Lake, including a 21-pound, 12-ounce, largemouth bass caught in 1991. The upper lake is stocked seasonally with rainbow trout. Other fish in the lake include channel catfish and smallmouth bass.
To catch your piscine prize, consider an opportunity not offered at any other lake on this list: renting a 14-foot fishing boat either hourly or for the day. For bait, you can visit Castaic Landing on 32839 Lake Hughes Road. You can also rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards from Cruise Castaic through Oct. 1.
Machado Lake
![A view of Machado Lake](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e046e3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x4284+0+0/resize/1200x900!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2F5d%2F821f683144d3b61cdaf5cef6eb48%2Fme-guide-to-visiting-the-best-lakes-in-l-a-county-machado-lake-03.jpg)
The 45-acre Machado Lake is located inside Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, a 231-acre oasis northwest of Long Beach.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
Although you cannot swim in it, Machado Lake in Harbor City deserves an honorable mention.
The 45-acre Machado Lake is located inside Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, a 231-acre oasis northwest of Long Beach.
Machado Lake is probably best known for being the previous home of Reggie, an alligator who was (illegally) relocated there when he outgrew his owners’ enclosures. Once spotted, Reggie rose to such a level of celebrity that Steve Irwin (RIP) once said he’d fly to L.A. to wrangle him. The elusive alligator lived in the lake for almost two years, until his capture in May 2007, when he was taken to the L.A. Zoo, where you can visit him and Tina, his female co-habitator, today.
At the time of Reggie’s residence, Machado Lake was known for its rankness. It was polluted and full of litter. But, in 2004, L.A. voters passed Proposition O, the city’s clean water bond, and approved $500 million for projects, including to clean up Machado Lake.
The lake was restored in recent years through dredging and adding infrastructure that can better support fish and wildlife. Officials said the dredging removed all of the invasive black snakes, sometimes spotted on heaps of trash at the lake, that were believed to be abandoned pets.
Today, the park and lake are a birder’s paradise, as it is home to more than 300 species of migratory birds. You might spot a peregrine falcon or other raptor, including kestrels, which nest there. You might also see a green or great blue heron, or a black-crowned night heron.
Machado Lake and its surrounding park is a melting pot for every type of L.A. resident, whether it’s grandparents arm-in-arm on a stroll, unhoused residents napping in peace, 20-somethings pretending not to smoke weed, parents taking their children fishing, or kids tossing around a football. Families and friends fish together on the lake’s banks and its fishing piers, casting poles through the California bulrush. Along with nice shade from pine and other trees, the park features multiple playgrounds, including one with rope obstacles, and several picnic tables and grills.
There are parts of the walk around Machado Lake that aren’t spectacular — including a fence sporting razor wire and the refinery in the distance — but the park thrives in spite of that.
-
Ohio1 week ago
Ohio taxpayers sent families $966 million for private school tuition: Capitol Letter
-
World1 week ago
What could an EU Commissioner do to tackle the housing crisis?
-
News1 week ago
Full Trump-Musk Interview: Assassination Bid, Iran-Israel, Russia-Ukraine, Kamala-Biden, US Election
-
News1 week ago
Roger Stone says his email accounts were how the hackers got into the Trump campaign
-
Science1 week ago
Opinion: A route to safer chemotherapy
-
World1 week ago
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 901
-
World1 week ago
Ukraine recieves €4.2 billion from EU as part of recovery plan
-
World1 week ago
A hidden ocean on Mars, would it spur human settlement?