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168-acre lake near Mammoth Lakes. The lake tops out around 140 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Convict Lake draws 176 acres inside 2.5 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.3) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Roughly 3% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 1 mi end to end and 0.4 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Genevieve Lake lies 3 mi southwest.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Fall rainbow trout concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 35 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (35 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for brown trout tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 63 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (35 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (35 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 119 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Convict Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Convict Lake is about 140 ft (43 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on Convict Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 63 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Convict Lake is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Genevieve Lake 3 mi · Edith Lake 3 mi · Bright Dot Lake 3 mi · Dorothy Lake 4 mi · Constance Lake 5 mi · Mary Lake 8 mi · Mamie Lake 8 mi · George Lake 8 mi · June Lake 18 mi · Agnew Lake 19 mi · Gem Lake 20 mi · Waugh Reservoir 21 mi
See how Convict Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in California · best brown trout lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.