How to use field.tpl for rendered node in views3
If you want to override the views field template, the correct template file name would be views-view-fields.tpl.php.

You need to copy the template sites/all/modules/views/theme/views-view-field.tpl.php to your current enabled theme folder. Then update the file as you need.

Rescan template files in your view theming information. The file views-view-field.tpl.php should be highlighted with bold. You may need to fluch the cache. It is a view template to all the fields as a row.


If you want to theme a specific field, you could use views-view-field--[field_name].tpl.php. It is the most specific view template.
You can check more in Views theming.