Well in the canal I usually don't crush my barbs just for the fact I want as much holding power as I can get. I usually just hold on and size the fish up and when I get a feeling about the size of the fish I then try and think if I have caught a fish in that area before and how the bottom area, structure is. This will dictate how aggressive I work the fish.
When I fish in the boat, with you, I do crush my barbs because you yell at me to do it and I allows follow my guides advice. I have kind of adopted it when fishing in my boat with plugs.
I have seen up close a few of these areas of current and several of them make the canal look like a duck pond. I think my response to fishing these areas usually goes something like I wouldn't want to catch a fish in that area or I can't imagine trying to reel a fish out of there.
Basically I got nutin for you. Fishing those areas is a crap shoot with the fish having the upper hand, but man it is super fun trying it though and when it does work you will remember it.
Heck I am still smiling about the one I did get from that area you told me to cast to and then told me I would never get it out of there
and after a few laps around the boat and you pointing out all the lovely structure under us I got my hands on it, crushed barbs and all.
I told you it was my best fight of the year and I had quite a few this year.