Its tough, but the rewards are huge.  If you don't have a boat then bank fishing Tahoe is definitely worth a shot.  Winter time is best for lunkers.  When the shallows warm in the summer then all you will catch are rainbows, but cold temps bring trophy trout within casting distance.  Here's what you do.

     Buy some Kastmasters.  Your colors are silver, gold and gold/red.  your size is 1/4 ounce.  Done.  Now find some rocky shoreline and cast the bank.  I once caught a 7 pound kype jawed rainbow at the Logan Shoals vista point doing just this.  If you don't feel like casting and walking, then grab your lawn chair and a book and soak some bait.

     Tie a sliding sinker bait rig with an 18 inch leader and a size 4 bait hook.  thread a crawler onto the hook and inflate to worm with a worm blower to keep it up off the bottom.  If you want to get fancy, use a needle to inject your worm with bait oil.  This will float your worm and release a scent trail for the lunkers to follow.  If you're feeling extra fancy add a single salmon egg to the hook.  I used this extra fancy rig a few years back to catch a gigantic brown from the bank at the mouth of cascade creek, as an osprey watched jealously from its nest.  Worms are the best bank bait because they behave.  minnows and crayfish also make great bait but they seem to hide in the rocks or the sand.  Also, I always sharpen my hooks, and you should too.

     Best bank rod for trout is the Ugly Stik 7 foot ultralight action.  Buy two, and a second rod stamp, and double your chances.  Team these with an appropriately sized spinning reel, strung with 6 lb. mono.  The best spinning reel I've found is the Pfleuger President.   It's loaded with ball bearings and affordably priced.  Load the spare spool with 4 lb. for fishing the high country.  For your line, use Berkley XL mono.  Mono floats better than fluoro, which helps keep your line up out of the rocks.  Use fluoro fly tippet for invisibility.  

     Now you're rigged up and ready to fish, so where to go?  Ask around and everyone will tell you Cave Rock.  This is a great spot and many lunkers are taken from the bank here every year.  However, it is roadside, and busy.  You will see guys bank fishing with shark rigs here.  Since you've read this much, I'll let you in on some spots only locals know about.  

-Logan Shoals vista point

-Mouth of Cascade Creek

-Eagle Point

-Zephyr Cove

-Secret Harbor

-Rubicon Bay

     Sign up for the newsletter for more info on these spots and more!  I look forward to seeing you out there.  Good luck.