"New to fly fishing in need of some help"

This weekend I finally got a chance to try out my new fly rod. I
packed the rod and wife into the truck, and went to the local ball
field to start casting practice. After the first few try I really
started getting the hang of it. So now it was time to go try this
thing out, down at the creek. I wade out with this rod in my hand
(everyone seems to look at you funny when you are walking with a fly
rod by the way.) and started to cast out. I spend about three hours
of this, trying different flies, woolly buggers, and nymphs. I have
been doing some reading on line and have found a leader calculator. I
this weekend I plan to start to tie my own leaders. So with all that
out of the way finally my questions. How much does a leader effect
your presentation? I like to use heavy line and really don't care for
something that is going to snap my line if I put a fly into a tree. I
have been reading some fly require 2lb test at the tippet. It is
about a month now into opening season for trout and I just started
using artificial lures last season. What is the best lure to fly fish
with in the spring, summer, and fall? Where I fish there is some
faster moving water and I tend to stick around that type of scenario
when I go out. I see these guys pulling out there limit and am
turning up with 1 maybe 2. Is this the price of using artificial
lures are am doing sometime wrong? I need some help.