Do you feel the heat? Oh, it's coming. Springtime and summer are right around the next bend in the river, and the water is calling to you. Whether it's fishing in Washington's lakes and smaller streams or heading out into the open water of the Pacific Ocean, you first have to decide what's the best craft to get you there. The choices are infinite, from little aluminum jon boats to one- and two-person sport watercraft to a luxury 24-foot ocean-going boat.

To get a better idea of what boat is best for what's useable, we talked to Brandon Frederick at U.S. Marine Sales and Service in Olympia.

"Pontoons are becoming very popular for families," Frederick said. Like an old fashioned raft or barge modernized for today's family, new pontoons are large, flat boats that can accommodate an entire family or a good-sized party for cruising, floating, fishing or swimming. U.S. Marine carries a large line of pontoons from 16 to 32 feet in length, including some two-story models. "There is no end in sight as far as options go," Frederick said. They can be fast, too. On average, they can go around 45 miles per hour, and some can go as fast as 60.

One of the most popular models is the Elite 326 SS from SunCatcher. Like a floating living room, it comes equipped with three lounge couches and soft wraparound bow furniture. It is 26 feet and five inches long and eight-and-a-half feet wide. The lay-down couches have storage compartments and cup holders. It comes with a changing room for privacy, and even comes with a 12-volt receptacle and cell phone holder.

For personal sport crafts, Frederick recommends the Yamaha three-seaters. He says they're very affordable and are great for wake boarding and skiing and "come with a lot of cool stuff - a one-stop package."

The VX Performance series is advertised as perfect for thrill seekers who crave the highest power-to-weight ratio they can get. They are lightweight and come equipped with a high-torque Yamaha 1.8-litre marine engine. Stepping up to the next level, the FX Cruiser SVHO is Yamaha's flagship cruiser providing high-end luxury. It comes with adjustable steering, "no-wake" cruise assist, watertight storage, a theater-style cruiser seat, and a reboarding step with dual grab handles at the stern. It can accommodate one to three people and holds 18.5 gallons of fuel.

For versatility, 19 to 24-foot standard runabout cruisers and fishing boats offer low maintenance. "Just get in, turn the key and go," Frederick said. They are typically used for water sports, "just cruising around the water," and fishing. He recommends the 190 FSH series from Yamaha for families that love to fish. The FSH series combines the jet boat experience with a fishing-friendly center console. With a 16-foot draft and eight-foot beam, the FSH can maneuver into tight fishing spots larger cruisers can't reach.  Features include oversized anchor locker and large fishing gear storage, plus not one but two insulated coolers, one at the bow and a removable cooler under the captain's seat. It comes with an aerated livewell to keep bait fish within easy access and a jet wash clean up system for after the fishing trip.

For the guy or gal who is serious about lake and stream fishing, there's nothing like a 10-to 18-foot jon boat. The new Rebel lineup delivers a spacious bow casting platform with concealed storage compartments and an 11-gallon, 35-inch livewell. The slideout battery tray and fuel tank hider allow for more onboard space. The Rebel 1600 comes with all the above plus a rear boarding ladder for easy water access.  Teamed up with a powerful Mercury outboard, the Rebel is everything a fisherman can want.

"For saltwater fishing, the 22 and 24-foot Weldcraft are very popular," Frederick said. Pioneered right here in Washington state, the Weldcraft company still builds their boats in Clarkston, at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. From the beginning they set out to weld the "reliability of water propulsion jets with the unrivaled strength of heavy-duty aluminum alloy to create a boat that could navigate tumultuous whitewater rivers, shallow bars and heavy seas. Weldcraft's Ocean King series is designed to slice through heavy seas while protecting passengers in an enclosed, Alaskan Bulkhead hardtop cabin. The Ocean King is big enough and strong enough, and can ride smoothly in rough waters. The 24-footer can accommodate engines up to 300 horsepower, and the 32-footer up to 500 hp.

To find out more about the right boat for whatever your boating needs might be, visit U.S. Marine at 3525 Pacific Ave., Lacey, or call them at 360.455.0788 or visit weldcraftmarine.com.