Zlon

All about flies Fly Tying
1

I’m trying to find the following Zlon colors:

Light Amber
Light Dun Crinckled

Any reliable suggestions where it would be available?

2

Are you looking for zelon?

Rick

3

Blue Ribbon Flies: http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/shop/category/fly_tying_materials/zelon/

4

…or in case you’re looking for Z-lon…:mrgreen:

https://umpqua.com/products/fly-tying/materials/betts-z-lon™-kinky
https://umpqua.com/products/fly-tying/materials/betts-standard-z-lon™-assortment-kits
https://www.bearsden.com/product9745.html
https://www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-3395-betts-z-lon.aspx
https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Umpqua-Z-Lon/productDetail/Fly-Tying-Synthetics/prod9999008648/cat125111
https://www.feather-craft.com/betts-z-lon
https://www.jsflyfishing.com/metz-standard-z-lon
https://www.orvis.com/p/z-lon/4439http://beaverkillangler.com/fly_tying/synthetics/z-lon.aspx

5

I’ve always wondered, what’s the difference between zlon and zelon?

6

Marketing…It’s all the same stuff. ZLon, Zelon, Z-yarn. May be packaged or configured differently, but same material in my opinion.

7

Zelon and Z-Lon are exactly the same. Zelon is sold by Blie Ribbon Flies. Z-Lon is sold by Betts/Umpqua Feather Merchants. Get your Zelon from Blue Ribbon Flies. The price of Betts Z-Lon is highway robbery for a tiny bit of yarn. You’ll get more Zelon yarn from Blue Ribbon Flies at a lower price.

Z-Yarn is similar but not the same. It is slightly finer, more opaque with less translucency. It is not as bright or as coarse as Zelon/Z-Lon.

8

The world’s entire supply of Zelon is owned by Blue Ribbon Flies and Betts. It was I believe a 3M product discontinued in the 80s.

9

one has an “e” the other doesnt

10

How are things Walter?
You need to post some more tying videos!

Did you have a good season?

11

Walter is correct. John Betts and Craig Matthews cornered the world’s remaining supply of Z-lon back in the 80’s. This is how it was originally packaged by John Betts:

This is amber next to golden ginger Z-lon from Umpqua:

…and this is kinky light dun Z-elon from Umpqua:

Blue Ribbon Flies and Umpqua are the ONLY two sources of Z-lon. BRF does their own dying which differs a bit from Umpqua. I like to be standing in their shop when I purchase Z-lon from them. Here is some info. on their Z-lon types and colors:

http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/shop/category/fly_tying_materials/zelon/

PT/TB