As someone mentioned above, a good snap-t, either with a two-hander OR a single-hander, is an effective space-making tool.
My father preached at us kids incessantly about being considerate of others. He was big on teaching us to stand up for our own rights and knowing what they were, but he also made sure we understood that ours stopped where someone else’s began. He taught us that when we had questions like the one posed here about “how close is too close,” there was always an easy way to answer it.
If someone else’s presence makes me uncomfortable, then they’re too close. If I find myself wondering if I’m too close…if someone might think I’m too close…then I am.
Dad also taught us not to walk along the edges of cliffs, but to stay a good distance away from them. His point was that there is no reason to push the envelope when there is plenty of room - no reason to “test the edge” when there is a whole pasture to walk in.
It’s sort of like the jet skiers who have the whole ocean or a whole 50,000 acre lake to ride around in, but they have to come cut donuts in the water around your tiny little kayak or canoe for a half hour while you’re fishing. Then there’s the dude who won’t power down to no wake speed as he goes past you because he just can’t afford the 15 seconds out of his day that will take.
There just isn’t any reason to be “that guy.” Every now and then we’ll get in cramped quarters or a crowd and things get a bit competitive. But that’s probably 1-2% of our recreational lives.
Out here on the east coast, I experience the “crowding” on all different levels every year during the Hickory Shad run. Someone can be catching fish one after the other and a guide with a client or clients will ALWAYS crowd you out. I liked the reference above to explaining the “simple math” approach with regards to the length of the rod, leader etc. There are many times when I have had people come up within 15-20 feet of me! I am not a little guy so my words are few…my typical comment to them is “if you hook me or my waders there is going to be hell to pay”. Most move on and some stay. But every year I see new people make such bold moves when crowding on a stream. Many, many times when I have been catching fish for a period of time and I see someone who is clearly new, or a kid, I always give up my spot. After all, what a great opportunity to get someone addicted to this sport.
I would not have “mellowed out”. I might even have reverted to a childish reaction of noisily waded into the area they were fishing just before leaving.