Middle of winter means time for sports shows in Ohio, Pa.

Dreary winter weather wearing you down? Tired of being tired. Itching to climb out of the recliner?

Then gentlemen, start your engines because starting today, the show season starts. Starting today, Cleveland’s IX Center is full of shiny boats and big bucks as both the annual Mid-Eastern Sail and Power Boat Show and the Cleveland Outdoor Adventure Show open.

The boat show runs through Monday and the sport show through Sunday according to published dates. The boat show features great prices and a nice selection of boats to shop while the sport show hosts popular History Channel alligator hunters Joe LaFonte and his side kick and stepson “Trigger” Tommy Chauvin.

If you’ve watched the show Swamp People, Tommy and Joe are skilled at their trade and entertaining. Both of these events can be found online with schedules, appearances, specials, and ticket prices.

In Dalton. A smaller but still enjoyable Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show, held at the Dalton Event Center, will run this weekend, Jan. 18 and 19.

The Dalton Event Center is easily seen along U.S. Route 30 in Dalton. Next up is the Hunting and Fishing Show on Feb. 1-3, at the Eastwood Expo Center in Niles.

Certainly the biggest and best outdoor show running Feb. 2-10 is the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show held at Harrisburg, Pa.

The show encompasses several large buildings of the State Farm Show Complex and requires at least one full day to see. This year’s event features a full menu of celebrity presenters including Shockey, Potts, Menendez, Skarlis, Ralph and Vicki, Lee and Tiffany, Weishuhn, Mann, and Morrett.

Lots of exhibitors. Is the show big? Try 1,200 exhibitors displaying everything from new gadgets to elephant guns. For sportsmen thinking about a hunting or fishing trip, the Eastern Show houses hundreds, not dozens, hundreds of outfitters offering trips and adventures including western adventures, African safaris, and fishing fun top to bottom.

If you’ve dreamed it, you can find it here. This show is a must-see for serious outdoor enthusiasts. Go to www.easternsportshow.com and make plans to attend.