ok first off i am new to the website (well kinda, this is the first major post) but here is something i just thought of (i am sure someone else has already thought of this but oh well).  i was reading a post from a while ago about beads being the cause of line breakings and it made me think of some of my own experiences and i began to think.  i am a firefighter here in the cincinnati area and started to think of medical supplies that we use on a daily basis that could solve this problem.  the solution...surgical tubing.  we use this for breathing mask and breathing tubes that we give oxygen through.  obviosly we get them direct but you can get them at any local medical supply store or here is a link (https://www.chinookmed.com/index.cfm/fa/product.display/product_id/891/Nasal%20Cannula.cfm).
 they are about a dollar a piece.  but what you do is take it an cut the tubing into very small pieces, about an 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch.  this is now your bracing point between your weight and your swivel.  its soft, plyable, and most all it wont knick or fray the line.  the sections of tubing can also be used as 1: replacement air hose for your aerators 2: covers for hook points during traveling from home to the lake 3: and it could even be forced down over your knot to protect it.  i am sure there are many more uses, just use your imagination.  here are some pics of the supplies and end product.

it dont stay plyable in 38* water temps

 Sounds like a good idea.....I think I'm going to try some peep sight tubing you can find at an archery dealer and cut like you said and use same method.

I was thinking of surgical tubing or something a little stiffer (heavy plastic staw) to make offsets to paternoster rigs. I am always trying to figure a feasible way to suspend baits for flathead.

I plan on doubling the line through the tubing and attaching short leaders for baitfish and putting a weight below the rig to suspend it various depths off the bottom. The rig would be floated with a plastic pop bottle with a release clip or small rubber band attaching the line. The bobber (bottle) would break away if a fish takes the bait and not interefre with fighting the fish.

ok fellas.....thanks for all the positive feedback but i got an update for y'all....went out today here in cincy on a small local river.  water was up and moving a lil fast with all the rain we got but i had the itch and wanted to try out a few things and i tried the surgical tubing idea as the bead.  i caught two small flatheads (both around 5 lbs) and three channels ( no real size to them either).  all five were caught on feeder goldfish from the pet store and the tubing as the bead worked fine.  i had no problems with it getting stiff in the cold water or any tearing or anything.  it was worth the try and ill continue to use it especially as the season goes on for some bigger ones..but thanks again for the responses.

tyler

for the water still being cold and it being muddy and up i am pleased

get ready to do that now doug...lost internet reception the other day and havent had a chance yet

well knightfisher i know the stuff that we use at the fire department is medical grade stuff and it is small diameter than regualr air line tubing you get at the store but the inside is not a circular shape like on the outside of it, it has some what of a star shape interior of the tube.  i will post a pic of it tomorrow for ya. but the hole is still big enough to force it on an aerator.  but to answer your question yes it is a smaller inside diameter.