Magic Johnson Park - Fishing Reports

[NeroXyn]

(03/20/2022)

Time : 06:30 A.M. - 08:30 A.M.
Wind : ~ 7 MPH SSW

Weather : Clear
Air Temp : ~58 F

Water Temp: * I did not have my water thermometer, yet, but considering I had been overestimating the temperature (due to being too used to with celcius), it is cool water.
 

• Started out with walking topwater (lunkerhunt impact commotion)
• Noticed the air ambient with a slight fog, I changed to my cheap cotton cordell gay blade to put in test, jig it like how TacticalBassins does - actually snagged a dink but came off right after. 100% my fault, because I repurposed the gay blade from being my keychain to an actual functioning bait. I had put VMC short round treble hook #6 from BX Brat, whose hooks I have changed to ewg treble.
• I alternated between squarebills and blade bait - no more bites.
• Pulled out my finesse improved slip shot rig (hopefully I am not disappointing a certain advocate ?), tried to slowly cover water while dragging - no bites.

 

Conclusion:

• I had not been back to this city pond because it often feels insecure in the morning as the park is located in less prime neighborhood. Security had been my primary concern. It seems after having looked on recent youtube videos (and the LA Park and Recreation's effort to rejuvenate parks across the county) had me convinced for going back.
• Other than jogging trails, the dirt is borderline muddy. I hate having to clean shoes with stuck dirt beneath the sole; it is so hard to clean and I don't like dirting my car.
• For some reasons, bass is getting smaller than I remember first time going there. This is a part reason why I might manage to get a bite on a blade bait
• I saw someone went around the pond just jigging a dropshot merely 10 - 15 ft from the shore and had constant bites. Historically speaking, dropshot seems to be favorable in this water.
• Next time, I may go back with everything downsized - ~1.0 squarebill, 2" ish lipless, better bladebait, 3" underspin, and drop shot.

[Hammer 4]

Back in the early 2000's, a friend wanted me to go to MJ park to fish. I knew the rep of that neighbor hood, and with some reservation I went, that was the last time I fished there, to sketchy for my liking. I instead began fishing Legg Lake, which had more to offer, and better fishing.

I live 29 mins from 2 city park lakes that I've fished 100's of times, and feel pretty safe going there, even at night.

[NeroXyn]

19 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

live 29 mins from 2 city park lakes that I've fished 100's of times, and feel pretty safe going there, even at night.

"there" - I assume you refer to Legg lake?

Legg lake is definitely a safe one; it is merely 10 - 13 miles from DTLA and isolated enough to be a very big green space. I am planning to go there in the next couple weeks.

 

Willowbrook is just out of my comfort zone, but I still like going there when there are lots of people jogging around in the morning.

[Hammer 4]

5 hours ago, NeroXyn said:

"there" - I assume you refer to Legg lake?

Legg lake is definitely a safe one; it is merely 10 - 13 miles from DTLA and isolated enough to be a very big green space. I am planning to go there in the next couple weeks.

 

Willowbrook is just out of my comfort zone, but I still like going there when there are lots of people jogging around in the morning.

Sorry, Not Legg Lake. The 2 I refer to are 1 is in the Torrance area, the other is in Long Beach, which is a pay to enter park.

[NeroXyn]

Let me try guessing: Alondra Park and El Dorado ?

[4g63power]

The surrounding neighborhoods are still sketchy at magic but the park itself is chill as long as you stick to the "mind your own business" stuff. A lot of 1lbers in there lol the place doesn't seem to get the same pressure as alondra or other city ponds but they are super spooked, typical finesse softbait fishing is the way to go just to get some bites, spinnerbaits did well for me there too. I moved out of the area, kinda miss magic and alondra both, fun lil ponds to scratch the itch. Legg lake/whittier narrow is not the same, rather drive a few more miles to hit puddingstone right now.

[Hammer 4]

4 hours ago, 4g63power said:

The surrounding neighborhoods are still sketchy at magic but the park itself is chill as long as you stick to the "mind your own business" stuff. A lot of 1lbers in there lol the place doesn't seem to get the same pressure as alondra or other city ponds but they are super spooked, typical finesse softbait fishing is the way to go just to get some bites, spinnerbaits did well for me there too. I moved out of the area, kinda miss magic and alondra both, fun lil ponds to scratch the itch. Legg lake/whittier narrow is not the same, rather drive a few more miles to hit puddingstone right now.

How has Legg lake changed ?

[4g63power]

6 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

How has Legg lake changed ?

Too many cormorants there now. It's been even slower since they came in big numbers. Now i see people catch mostly small bedfish here and there. it's just not fun fishing there even I'm probably there like once a week since it's literally down the freeway from me lol. At least at puddingstone they have rocks and brushes in the water, you can actually feel something, legg is just all mud on the bottom.

[Hammer 4]

1 hour ago, 4g63power said:

Too many cormorants there now. It's been even slower since they came in big numbers. Now i see people catch mostly small bedfish here and there. it's just not fun fishing there even I'm probably there like once a week since it's literally down the freeway from me lol. At least at puddingstone they have rocks and brushes in the water, you can actually feel something, legg is just all mud on the bottom.

Thanks for the info. Saves me a trip out there.

[NeroXyn]

On 4/3/2022 at 8:44 AM, 4g63power said:

The surrounding neighborhoods are still sketchy at magic but the park itself is chill as long as you stick to the "mind your own business" stuff. A lot of 1lbers in there lol the place doesn't seem to get the same pressure as alondra or other city ponds but they are super spooked, typical finesse softbait fishing is the way to go just to get some bites, spinnerbaits did well for me there too. I moved out of the area, kinda miss magic and alondra both, fun lil ponds to scratch the itch. Legg lake/whittier narrow is not the same, rather drive a few more miles to hit puddingstone right now.

I did go Puddingstone a month ago. It was tough, too.
 

I have been trying to filter out my bait selections up to only 3 - 4" swimbait + underspin and finesse setup (drop shot and drop swimming), and it has recently been productive for me fishing at Magic. Hopefully, that'll be a good strategy for Puddingstone.

 

[4g63power]

I went to puddingstone this afternoon, full on algae bloom there right now, i wasn't expecting to see that yet. Did a lot of walking and casting, had two bites and brought one in. Hopefully it cleans up soon, it's not fun removing the nasty stuff after every cast.

 

[NeroXyn]

Holy cow that is big. nice one!