Every point made in this thread is excellent.
It seems as the common point made is that the decisions we make on the water through educated guesses and trial and error effect our day on the water. Taking in all of the information off and on the water we can to come to a conclusion then executing is the hardest part. Mechanically fishing is simple. The putting the evaluation, decision making, and execution all together at once and making the right call is what separates a bad, good, and great day.
I am not a firm believer in the fish just are not biting. I have been in to many tournaments or been back to the ramp and someone has had a stringer while I am scratching my head thinking they should fill the a lake with concrete or drain it.