i have the same problem.. and I do exactly as you have... once i see an inference question i read all of the answer choices and from there I make the best judgment of what the question is asking

This is what I understand about Inference questions.. the answer won't be directly "in the text" sort of speak. And instead we have to use our best judgment about what the author/paragraph is trying to say within the scope of the text.. so far i've had many misses and few right.

anyone chime in with a strategy that works better?

One strategy that i have found working is:
Find the area of the RC where the question is asked for.
Try to map the reasoning or write it down if you want as:
A implies B.
Generally, answer has to follow the same logic.
Wrong answers will distract you by stating B implies A.
Also, Not A implies Not B is also correct.

It has to be in the same vein.

This is one approach to solving inference questions.