Early in the season they can stick with hens all day, your right. As far as a game plan, pattern them. Try to stick to a field of woodlot you know they use regular. Always easier to call one if your where he wants to go anyway. With that being said, in my experience you got to just plan as you go. Turkeys can be stubbern, smart, whatever you want to call it, just being turkeys! So for me stalking, ambushing, calling, wading creeks, is in the plan. I've been just as proud of turkeys I've snuck into shooting range and got, as of ones Ive called. If you were calling up jakes, than I think your calling was fine. It's more of a matter of getting on that bird that's ready. You did what you had to do to get one on the ground, IMO thats what makes a turkey hunter.
Hunt safe and good luck!