, cigar butts..
you don't usually catch blues on eels they leave you about 2" of the head portion. I have caught eels at my marina in plain old Killie traps. You have to buy an extra killie trap extension piece the lengthens the trap by about 10" to 12". This is because if the eel enters a normal size killie trap and bumps it's nose on the other end it will back out of it. The extension lengthens the trap so they don't do this.
$2 an eel is the going rate. As Capt.Carl mentioned, it's just easier to but them. But if you had the time to trap your own give it a try.