The fog was so thick you couldn't even see 15 feet in front of the boat. It was also dark.

What a mess. We were trying to get to our duck-hunting spot on the Snake River last weekend, but the river was smothered in a fog bank.

It was eery. I mean really eery. It was enough to give you some kind of vertigo. Talk about having no bearings at all, this was it. It plays with your mind.

When we arrived at the river, we expected to zip out to our hunting spot in the dark like we have been doing most weekends this fall. The trip takes about 15 minutes in the jetboat.

We have clear, red and green running lights on the jetboat. We also have a couple of big Mag lights and another large search light.

The weekly trip is not difficult and we have landmarks burned in our memories.

BOAT RAMP DISAPPEARS

But the fog was so thick on this particular morning, we didn't know what direction we were going right after we left the boat ramp. It disappeared immediately, and we were in a cloud.

You couldn't tell which direction you were going unless you cut the motor and drifted in the river current. And, that wasn't wise because a boat with no power in a river is vulnerable. You could slam the bank or a log and swamp the boat.

After about 30 minutes, the boat ramp appeared out of the fog. Really! We had gone a full circle, which is common in foggy conditions.

Another group of hunters who went downriver ended up passing us going up river and asking for directions. They only had a little flashlight and were having a difficult time.

There were about four boat trailers at one ramp and another dozen at a ramp five miles upstream. That's a lot of hunting boats going in all directions in the fog.

It could have been a disaster with boat collisions, but I didn't hear of any later.

My son, Andy, was driving the boat, and I was in the bow scanning a powerful search light back and forth. Suddenly the bank appeared and a branch took out a running light. The branch appeared out of nowhere.

The dogs were getting antsy, too. If they would have jumped out of the boat, we would have never found them in the fog.

Being out in the middle of the river in the fog is just plain spooky. We had another boat appear out of nowhere, and we didn't see it until it was within 15 feet. With your boat motor running, you can't hear another boat engine.

Luckily, we remembered to bring the GPS unit and our hunting spot was marked on it. It was the classic example of why a GPS unit is important.

Navigating a foggy river, even with GPS, is still a challenge. We had to move slowly because of the visibility, but we also had to maintain a speed so we wouldn't lose momentum in the current.

We finally were able to follow the bank of the river despite overhanging trees, rocks and low water. We recognized a clump of cattails that we had hunted before.

I've never been on the river with the fog so thick so I'm reviewing some of our nighttime boating techniques. Here are some tips to deal with fog:

Your clear, green and red running lights are crucial in such conditions, mainly so that you can be seen and don't get hit by another boat.

According to state law, you must have navigation lights aboard and use them at night, in the fog or when visibility is hampered in a snow or rainstorm.

Don't forget a sound device on your boat. You have to have one on board. In fog, blast your horn, or an airhorn, at least every two minutes to warn other boaters.

You can see more on Idaho boating laws at www.boat-ed.com/id/id_laws.htm. Click on legal requirements.

Hunt an area that you are really familiar with if it is foggy. Don't go exploring a new spot. Each time you go out on the river, make mental notes of landmarks, river channels and other features so that you can comfortably navigate in the dark or fog. Mark all this stuff on a map. It's easy with a computer topo map program.

Mark all your hunting spots and routes on your GPS unit and have them stored for emergencies. It's good to do all of this on those bluebird hunting days when you can see everything. Know which routes on the river you take at different flow levels so you don't run aground in the dark or fog. Monitor river flows before you go out.

Bring a compass as a backup.

Make sure all your electrical equipment is working, especially your running lights. Keep fresh batteries in your headlamp and bigger flashlights. Have a spare flashlight stashed somewhere.

You might want to install headlights on your boat.

Wear your life vests and make sure your dogs have neoprene vests or life vests.

I can't imagine flipping a boat in the fog and having people, dogs, equipment and the boat scattered around where visibility is less than 20 feet.

If you were in the water, you wouldn't even know which way to swim for shore. It wouldn't take long for hypothermia (lowering of body core temperature) to set in. The river temperature last week was 48 degrees and the air temperature was in the 20s.

Reduced speed is important. The old rule is that you must be able to stop in less than half the distance of visibility really applies in fog.

If you fear colliding other boats on the river, cut your engine every once in a while and listen for other motors. If you hear another boat, hit the horn.

Stopping and listening can also help you get your bearings. There was one point where we cut the engine and heard the traffic on the highway. At least we knew, from that point, the road side of the river and which way was upstream.

Always check and restock your survival and first-aid kits and also your dry bag with emergency clothing.

Don't overload your boat anytime on the water.

We don't get too many foggy days on our rivers and reservoirs in Southwest Idaho, but it only takes one experience to really get you spooked.

Be prepared for it. Good hunting and safe boating.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445