What situations?

[falkners]

In order to catch fish, you need to put your fly in front of the fish. You should have flies that you can fish in various parts of the water column. You should carry surface flies, flies that suspend and flies that sink. Since you're a tier the advantage you have is the ability to tie flies to fit the situation better than storebought. Bulky to suspend and sparse to sink. Don't go too crazy with too many colors. Its expensive to buy the materials and not necessary. Don't tie all your flies the same size. The bait is small in the spring and gets bigger as the season progresses.You can tie a chartreuse Deciever in several different lengths, some bulky and some sparse, some weighted and some not to fit the actual fishing conditions. That is just an example but with just a couple of materails you are covering almost the entire water column. With that one type of fly and a popper, a slider and a few Clousers you can fish effectively in most situations. Pick up a copy of Ray Bondereaus' book "Stripers and Streamers". He fishes with about 5 or 6 simple flies and catches fish. The presentation is what really matters most of the time. Too many people get all caught up in the gear and don't really learn how to fish.

['ol pajamas]

How true, presentation is #1. Start with a fly you have confidence in, regardless of what is in the water. However, swim it where the stripers are. If nothing is happening and you know there are fish, then the work begins. I prefer using 2 or 3 flies on dropper to find out what's happening. Swim them on the surface and then get them deep.
Certainly the more one fishes the more one encounters exceptions but we have to start the night with something on. In all those situations that you mention what is most important is to let the most fish see your offering for longest period of time possible.

[pmueller]

Some great advice in that last few responses. Keep it simple first,get confidence in your flies and techniques. Deceivers poppers clousers then work up from there.
Work hard at getting the fly in front of the fish. You may have to work a particular piece of structure for a while to get a hit.
Keep working and practice casting. Mending is a great tool, dead drifting is a killer.