## Overview

 Convict Lake Campground is situated near Convict Lake amidst the beautiful scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake and surrounding national forest provide many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation. The campground and nearby resort offer many amenities for a convenient and enjoyable camping experience. The facility is located between Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, California, near Mammoth Airport.
## Recreation

 The eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for exceptional trout fishing. Anglers can cast a line for rainbow and brown trout in the creek or lake. Power boats are limited to electric motors on the lake (six horsepower or less). The area\'s majestic scenery and variety of trails draw in hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian enthusiasts. The 3.5-mile Lake Trail can be accessed from the campground, and many other trails are in nearby John Muir Wilderness.
## Facilities

 This is a fairly large and well-organized facility with both reservable and first-come, first-served campsites. A few sites overlook the lake, while others are a short distance from the shore. Sites are spaced fairly close together. Flush toilets, drinking water, hot showers and a dump station are provided, as well as food storage lockers for safety from bears. Campers can purchase firewood on-site. A store, pack station, boat rentals, restaurant, showers and other amenities are just down the road at the Convict Lake Resort.
## Natural Features

 The campground sits at an elevation of 7,500 ft. and provides gorgeous views of the lake and the dramatic mountain scenery. Convict Creek runs through the campground, and the 167-acre Convict Lake is about 100 yards away. Shrubs and low vegetation fill in the landscape, though tall aspen and cottonwood trees grow along the creek. The area is abundant with wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Visitors can explore the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which stretches for 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain, and offers extensive hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails.

Convict Lake Campground

This is one of my favorite places in the Eastern Sierra Mountains.  It’s just a short drive from the highway and Mammoth Airport.  The campground is very popular with a mix of reserved and non reserved sites.  I understand the name of the lake is related to some convicts who escaped to the area many years ago.  We were able to get a walk up sites by arriving in the early afternoon.  The sites are well groomed with fire pits and picnic tables.  The restrooms are very clean and well maintained.  The setting may be one of the most beautiful in California.  You have large mountain lake surrounded on 3 sides by beautiful mountain peaks.  They have great 3 or 4 mile trail around the lake and lots of fishing opportunities.  

Most Beautiful Campgroud 

Convict Lake is a beautiful campground in the east Sierras. Fantastic fishing. The fall colors were outstanding. T-mobile is accessible at space 5.
Convict Lake Trout Fishing  

Trout are the draw at Convict Lake. 

With crystal clear water and abundant forage, the Convict Lake rainbows are hearty and ready to put your knots to the test. 

Thanks to regular plantings and cool, high-elevation waters, the bite stays relatively good throughout the year, although definite peaks occur in the cooler spring and fall weather. 

Brown trout can be found here as well, though there aren’t as many as the ‘bows. They do get big, though, so it’s definitely worth a try. 

The fishing season runs from the end of April through the middle of November. Check with current regulations to make sure you’re within the seasonal guidelines.  

To focus on rainbow trout at Convict Lake, you must first decide if you want to fish the lake or the creek. Both are excellent fisheries, and both get a ton of pressure during the high tourist season. 

The lake will offer more in the way of size, while the creek often offers faster action. It’s a toss-up, really, and you can do some of both if you’re staying a few days.  

The lake has several areas to target, though the key here is to fish the edge of the bowl. There’s a ledge around it that drops off into much deeper water. Fishing along this edge can provide some pretty great action. 

Starting at the main parking lot at the marina, you can go out on the jetty that forms the bay. From the jetty, you can cast straight to the edge of the ledge and get your bait in front of schools of fish.  

If you choose the jetty, keep in mind boats are coming and going all day, and nobody wants their prop tangled up with your line. Use proper etiquette, and you’ll be fine. 

Following the road partway down the southern side of the lake will get your to several parking areas with trails along the lake. 

Intrepid anglers can continue on foot to reach additional areas with fewer bank anglers. 

Trout can be caught right from shore all around the fisherman’s trail. It wraps around the lake and offers access to all sorts of great fishing holes.  

Fresh baits work great if you’re bait fishing, as do PowerBait and mouse tails. Using minnows can also be very productive here, as can injecting a nightcrawler with air to float it in front of cruising trout. 

Check at the marina for minnows and other baits. 

If boats are more your thing, this lake will give you plenty of reasons to come back. 

Troll from the marina around the lake just off the drop-off, and you’ll likely do well. 

Use the standard trolling techniques and watch your finder. Baits, spoons and spinners are always a go-to for trolling.  

The resort has reported that trolling Needlefish in the Green Frog pattern or Tasmanian Devils in the Bleeding Frog patterns have been effective. 

Tie on a rainbow-colored lure, and you just might find the browns that are sprinkled around the lake. Browns love eating fingerling rainbows, and in Convict Lake, they don’t have to look very far to find some. 

The lake’s southern end has some pretty great areas for setting off in a float tube and slinging some streamers. 

The inlet usually has some pretty big trout holding below it, waiting for a tasty snack. 

Toss some Woolly Buggers in the 8- 10-size range, Clouser Minnows in 6-8, and Mohair Leech patterns. These will bring big fish to the net. 

Early mornings also offer excellent dry fly opportunities, as long as the wind stays away. 

Fishing for Convict Creek Trout  

Convict Creek is a favorite fly-fishing destination, with decent-sized ‘bows, browns, and brook trout. 

You may find a few brookies in the lake, but for the most part, they stick to the creeks. 

The rainbows are the most common catch, especially after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife plants it below the dam in the spring, which is likely to occur by May. 

If approaching the creek with a fly, think Olive Caddis in sizes 12 to 16, possibly with a Hares Ear Nymph below. Use the dry as an indicator. 

Some flies you must have in your kit for the creek are Pheasant Tail or A.P. nymphs in 12-16, and one more dry, the Yellow Humpy, in 14-18. 

Bait anglers can do well on the creek using small hooks in the size 10 to 12 range with one or two chartreuse garlic fireballs. If they aren’t biting on the chartreuse, try the orange shrimp flavor. 

Trout go nuts for this stuff. Just don’t spill the liquid on your hands. Tough to wash that stink off.
