Just went through there last week. It was tough paddling in against the current - we had three tandems that got through it in varying degrees of difficulty, and then I had a solo SR Tranquility, not ideally trimmed, with which I decided "no way I'm making this, gonna get out & line it".
Looking at the map, going toward Russell youd naturally think it would be best to stay on the right side. But that side has more swirlng, tricky water and if you paddled through you'd maybe want to stay toward the left initially. Pretty much what Mad_Mat said.
Going the other way, should be no problem...just have to pay attention - I'd have loved to have the camera out for all the mergansers & the bald eagle there, but it might've wound up in the water.