This is the wire former that I settled on, it is Little pricey but has paid for itself with saved components and fewer doctors visits due to hook wounds.
A pool noodle is one of those colorful foam cylinders that kids use in the pool to help them float they are about 4 ft long and 3" around and when cut down to a manageable size are used to wrap the traditional worm harnesses around. The hooks still remain exposed and youngsters seem to always find them once they penetrate their fingers. Just the nature of kids and exposed hooks I guess. Anyhow this type of harness does solve the problem, and they are so much easier to store.

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-fo...ls/421150.aspx