Wow so many fantastic responses here, thank you everyone for all the suggestions and information. I keep a detailed fishing log and I have copied some of the specific suggestions into it!
I think some common themes here that I will take away can be summarized as:
-Getting skunked is normal!
-Keep fishing! Experience on the water is invaluable
-Walk around and find quieter spots, away from the flossers, where the fish are less spooked
-Move around less. Fish come in schools, up the whole river, so they will eventually come to me
-Try more things! Spoons! Jigs! Spinnes! Wool!
I think the biggest thing I continue to be confused about is identifying good spots. I have a hard time picturing "that slot that looks fishy. The one that has lots of room below it for the fish to move up". I will keep looking.
I definitely believe that it is possible to get into fish more often than not. I think of the huge amount of knowledge and skill in guys like Justin from Sea-Run and Rod from bent rods and it makes me excited for all the things I'll learn over the next few years!
I'm going to the river again tomorrow morning! Everyone here has got me excited again