I'am like you, in that I have seen more snakes on Truman this year than in a long time. Most are harmless but they can be aggresisive, I've had a few attack top water baits in years past. The one to watch out for would be the cottonmouth, the only one that I have seen was way up Deep water creek, and that right after Truman was opened for fishing and that was probably '78 or '79. They are easy to reconize, short fat with a wide triangle shaped head, and a bad attitude. I would give them a wide berth, but I think that they are extremely rare in our part of the state. Be carefull and good luck.