Slowly but surely, area businesses are already bustling more than a little bit, anxious to get ready for spring. The calendar might say it’s only three weeks away, but Mother Nature will be the one to decide when the Lake Erie walleye will be biting, and when you’ll hear the crack of a bat on the local baseball fields. That doesn’t mean folks aren’t getting ready. Pint-sized ballplayers were getting instructions during a special workout at Port Clinton High School Gymnasium with Junior Varsity Coach Mark Howerth. Giving up Lake Erie walleye secrets at the recent South Shore Marine Fishing Show in Huron was Port Clinton Fishing Guide Julia “Juls” Davis, of the Ranger Boat Team. Making sure everyone at the show would start the season with the hot walleye lures and fresh fishing line were, left to right, Mark Cahlik, Ken Pekar and Shannon Petersen of Bay’s Edge Bait & Tackle Shop. (Photos by D’Arcy Egan)