If someone is crossing the road be it jaywalking etc.. or within your casting area it is your responsibility to stop. You can't go around hitting ppl Bc they shouldn't be there.
Fair enough.
I'm simply stating that it would be VERY hard, if not impossible (going from experience in legislation, writing up legal reports for classes, and attending court cases) to get a conviction on someone for hooking you with a spey or fly rod on a river, UNLESS they were seen casting directly at you.
If they are in your area, and you hit them with your anchor or back cast, that is not something you were intentionally doing. Next time I see the judge I have contact with through school, I'll ask if she would charge someone under these circumstances. Knowing her, she'd probably turn to the guy who got hooked and ask what he was doing standing there when he knew the spey angler needed more room. You can't expect someone to move and stop fishing just because you want to fish there and need their space.
NOTE: I am only commenting on the fly fishing/spey fishing aspect of this thread. I would never condone hucking a spoon or a float fishing set up at a boat, person, etc. In that case, you know what you're doing and you really don't need the room. My point of view is from the fly/spey angler who NEEDS room to fish. Although some here would intentionally cast as someone with their fly rod - it would be hard to prove just because of what fly fishing is. I wouldn't do it, but I know other people (friends included) would.
This is my opinion, not what I do. I have never cast at any one, and generally I leave without even saying anything. I have a couple times tossed rocks on my way out, and have once or twice cut line when someone has cast over me (mostly due to not wanting to sit there and untangle a huge mess of braid twisted by a spoon).
I'm simply stating - if you're in a fly/spey caster's area, you're an idiot and you're potentially going to get hurt. In the case you do get hurt, it was your own fault. End of story.
Getting back to the original post - IT'S THE FREAKING VEDDER. As my other post said... not even enough room for every angler to have his own piece of water any more.