We fish the same stretches of water with the same flies and they consistently catch more fish. There can be any number of factors giving your friends an edge. Perhaps they are more adept at seeing the take or have gained quicker reflexes in setting the hook. A fish s life hangs in balance between the energy it expends swimming against the current and the amount of energy it receives from eating. The very best feeding lies exist where the fish can shelter itself from the current and let the river deliver the food.
Likely places are current seams where fast and slow water meet.
Behind a rock in the void of the current or in front of a rock where hydraulic pressure builds up. Often a fish will not move more than a few inches from the shelter of their feeding lane to take your fly. If your fly is landing within a few feet of where you are aiming instead of a few inches of the target, you are missing the opportunity to catch more fish. Moreover, casting repeatedly to the same spot, splashing down a fly, and dragging tippet and leader over a fish in an attempt to get a cast placed correctly can spook a fish causing it to temporarily break from feeding.