Take a look at the Cobra Products 25Ft Power Drain Snake. It is reasonably priced and is a very reliable product.
get a long pipe with a lid on one end. put an egg into the pipe, at the far end with the lid. then put the pipe with the egg in it anywhere where the snake will go (eg. under the house). then wait. the snake will be attracted by the egg, and it will go into the pipe. once its in there, it cant turn around or go backwards. so it wont get out. when you hear rattling or something from the pipe, the snake might be in there. if the snake is in there, then you can either leave the snake in there to die, or do something with it.
do you mean a trumpet snake? it is a pipe snake fashioned for the trumpet to make cleaning it easier.
flute
there isn't a good way to know unless you camera it, but if your snake is head is full of dirt (not rust) its a good sign.
To use a drain snake effectively to unclog a pipe, first insert the snake into the drain until you feel resistance. Then, turn the handle clockwise to push the snake further into the pipe. Once you reach the clog, continue turning the handle to break it up. Finally, slowly pull the snake out of the drain to remove the clog and any debris.
You can put a liquid pipe snake down your drain or put a hose down there
Check these pictures I found on a web-site of pipe snakes.
Use a Plumber's "snake".
Copperhead.
Snake through the closest cleanout
If it is not in the trap, then it usually can only be located by "snaking" the pipe with a plumber's snake, a length of braided steel cable with a pincer or spiral spring end. The snake can be pushed through the pipe easily until it meets the obstruction, where it stops. Rotating the snake then bores through the obstruction, or, alternately, latches on to it so it can be pulled out.
Bostik as in a stapler? You probably have to cut the pipe where you think it is at. I don't think a plumber's snake is going to help.