We had blackberries for awhile,and dh just let them grow thru the chain link,and when he saw the canes that didn't catch on the fence,he'd just tuck them in.So it wasn't a time consuming project.

The last couple years he hasn't even let them grow.
Warning though to ya,they will send out suckers all over the place,that why he keeps them cut back now.
HTH
Kathi

I think as long as you can work both sides of the fence that would be good.I would not let it get wild and full of spent floricanes on one side because I think it eventually ends up a low production mess, YMMV. I would Keep canes to about 6-12" from the fence line. You can let it become a hedge or try to maintain individual plants.

Thanks for the feedback. Good to think about twining them into the fence vs. tying them up, and also I hadn't thought about benefit of access on both sides of the fence, which in the one spot I won't have. But there is another (slightly less sunny) area that does have access on both sides, so I'll consider that as an option.
sb