Need to locate crappie, just got two checks after 13 years and thinking of spending some time on the water looking fer food. Live near Hubbard and fish Athens and Purtis a bit... Any help on these waters?

Wish I could help never fished either lake but this will get you back to the top of the list. Now if you are in a boat and your location sounds like you could hit Cedar Creek I hear tell brush piles are paying off/

I've fished Purtis Creek a few times but, never had great success. But, like Leftout said above, Cedar Creek Lake is one of the best crappie lakes around.

What ramp do you guys recommend on Cedar Creek..Don't have the gas to burn and although I have never been, I know its a huge lake.

Coming from Garland, I think I'd use the public ramp on Hwy 334 half way across the bridge between Seven Points and Gun Barrel City. Coming down Hwy 175 take the Hwy 274 exit. At the light in Seven Points turn left onto 334 and it's about 4 or 5 miles on your right.
I have NOT used this ramp lately but, believe it's still open and it's free!
With the light east wind this morning I'd go south from the ramp and stay on the east side of the lake. Be careful as you go between the small island and the mainland as it is very shallow and just beyond that point, you'll start marking brushpiles that have been productive lately.

I have great luck with crappie at Purtis Creek. I have every color combo of Crappie jigs known to man, but I tie on any pearl white curly tail or Bobby Garland type jig with a hot pink jig and I easily limit out (I if I was keeping, I usually catch and release) most every trip. Head for the trees between the ramp and the 2nd cove. Fish the trees on either side of the boat lane where the water is 18-20 feet. Most of the time you will find them a couple cranks off bottom in 12-14 feeet of water.