Flow is the volume of water that is moving past a given point in the river. It is measured in cubic feet per second or per minute. Both the width and the depth of the river influence the speed at any given location while in a situation such as mine, where there are dams both above and below where we fish, the dams control the flow. The flow is always downstream. There is a value there, I just am not smart enough to be able to quantify it.
Islands are another factor.
In addition to the effect they have on current, there are normally bars, both on the upstream end and the downstream end. These are often spawning as well as feeding areas. Always deserving of extra attention on both ends during all seasons. Island ends are five pointers.