Several thoughts on the silver bite.
1) As they near their home rivers they become more and more finicky. This makes they unpredicatable. At times it takes time to solve the riddle for the day.

2) Like Fishstick I have noticed that the tide stage is important - different areas may have different high percentage tides. If I don't know a marine area I start around the low; seems to me that most areas fish best one side or the other of the low slack (better rips?). For the tidal portion of rivers the last of the flood has been most consistent for me.

3) Early in the day the fish often are more scattered - both shallowed and deep. Those fishing wire may find more consistent fishing once they group up at a given level (several hours after daylight).

4) Tend to find more consistent surface fishing (upper 20 feet -reachable by flies and other shallow presentations) during calm water rather than rough or choppy water.

5) Traveling fish tend to be shallow, milling fish deep.

6) Fish tend to travel more during low light periods - Prehaps that is why beach fishing is often best early and late in the day.

Just my observations, take them for what they are worth - that is - not much. I'm sure that others have lots of exceptions and different observations.

The best bite remains when I can go fishing - have never caught one staying home!

tight lines
Smalma