Couple years ago a eastern copperhead almost got me.Snuck up behind me while I was panning a sandbar in a creek.Just by luck I turned around just in time and nailed him w/a .45
I wear Danner Sharptail boots, been struck a few times by copperheads, once by a rattler, never got through the boot , also very comfortable to walk all day in.
I generally detect in creeks and streams with headphones. That makes it much less likely that I'll spot a snake. Since I'm mostly in water, I'm currently using Water/Snake-proof Muck Boots.