In PA there was a series of falls probably a 20 foot elevation in total that we would routinely see the young eels "climbing" the rocks to get to the stream above the falls. It was a spectacular and a viscerally disturbing scene to see hundreds of eels going up those rocks.
QB - in Connecticut I had friends that would nail the eels to a tree to get the hook out. Not only were they slimey, but tended to swallow your bait. I just stopped trying to remove the hooks when I would catch one. Get close and cut the line. Probably not the best catch and release practice, but that was well before any circle hooks made the market.
I do agree with Gavin that they are good to eat. If only I had known that back in the day.