From shimmering Himalayan Goat to soft, supple Kid Goat, this versatile natural fibre has found its way into the hands of both classic salmon tyers and adventurous streamer artisans alike.

Let’s explore the many personalities of goat hair, how they behave in the water, and why every serious fly tyer should keep a few patches handy.

Himalayan Goat – The Streamer Specialist’s Secret Weapon

Himalayan Goat (often labeled Veniard’s Himalayan Goat) is famous for its long, slightly coarse fibres that shimmer like liquid glass when wet. This material is prized by streamer tyers who want bold movement and profile without bulk. Its natural sheen catches the light beautifully, giving life to baitfish patterns that need to stand out in deep or tannin-stained water.

Its my material of choice for my hairwing streamers as a topping hair. Although sometimes harder to source and more expensive it is a premium choice. Many times Cashmere goat will serve equally as well and even arctic goat although the shine of himalayan goat is hard to replace.

Rainbow Smelt - Tied with Nayat and Himalayan Goat

Why You’ll Love It:

• Excellent durability — resists matting and holds its shape when wet.
• Reflective fibers create an irresistible “pulse” effect when stripped or swung.
• Easy to blend with softer materials like Snow Runner or Nayat for added motion. I combine with Nayat Hair for all my hairwing single hook and tandem streamers

Best For:

• Large streamers and salmon flies where flash and volume matter — think patterns like the Footer Special or Magog Smelt variations.
• Tails and wings on predator flies targeting brook trout, salmon, or pike.

Drawback:
The fibres can be slightly stiff for smaller patterns. Use sparingly on delicate flies to maintain a natural taper.

Arctic Goat – Grace and Flow in Cold Water

If the Himalayan is bold and confident, Arctic Goat is its graceful, understated cousin. The fibres are silky soft, with just enough body to maintain a natural flow in the water. Its secret weapon lies in movement—each hair dances independently, creating a realistic, breathing action that’s ideal for imitating minnows and smelt.

A close second to Himayan Goat it will do nicely as a substitute or in applications where slow natural movement is needed such as the case with many baitfish imitations.

Since it is primarily domestic Arctic Goat is more readily available and in a host of colors

Why You’ll Love It:

• Soft texture = beautiful natural movement in slow currents or still waters.
• Accepts dyes well, giving vivid, lasting colors that pop even in low light.
• Great for blending with synthetics or natural dubbings for custom tones.

Best For:

• Smelt and baitfish patterns that need subtle lifelike motion.
• Hairwing Atlantic salmon flies where you want a natural swimming profile without stiffness.

Drawback:
It can trap a bit of air initially, so give your flies a few casts to let the material “breathe” into its proper action.

Cashmere Goat – Fineness and Elegance in a Fly

Often associated with luxury textiles, Cashmere Goat hair has made its way into fly tying for one key reason: fineness. The fibres are incredibly soft and fine—ideal for patterns where subtlety and finesse are the goal.

Cashmere goat hair is a very fine, soft, and long material ideal for creating streamers with a translucent shine, while Himalayan goat hair is long, strong, and vibrant, often used for wings and over-wings in patterns like the Sunray Shadow or Temple Dog

Why You’ll Love It:

• Ultra-soft texture allows for smooth tapers and delicate movement.
• Great for creating realistic baitfish underbodies or throats that don’t overpower other materials.
• Blends beautifully with fine flash or dubbing for a subtle shimmer.

Best For:

• Smaller streamers and wet flies where a delicate profile is needed.
• Trout flies or smaller salmon patterns with controlled movement.

Drawback:
Because it’s so fine, it lacks the stiffness needed for larger patterns. It’s best used as a secondary or accent material rather than the main wing.

Tip: Many cases use it as a topping hair supported by stiffer fibers like bucktail or Nayat Hair underneath

Kid Goat – Youthful Energy, Natural Flair

Kid Goat, provides a happy medium between structure and softness. The fibres are springy and full of life, offering both movement and control—making it a go-to choice for tyers who want versatility.

Kid goat hair refers to the hair from a young goat, typically under one year old

Kid Goat haas become very popular for many salmon fly patterns or smaller streamers. Can be dyed easily and compresses very well to allow for a secure connection to the hook without additional glues or cements. 

Many local sources can be laiden with underhair which requires removal. Also look for hair that has fewer broken tips allowing for the best wing presentation and visual appeal. 

The natural white goat hair is more an "off white" for lack of a better term. Although this may be less of an issue with some I prefer the super white kid goat that is commercially available and no doubt has be bleached to obtain the bright white. This is the case with the "Skeena Goat Hair" that I have come to use exclusively for all my white wing salmon wet fly patterns.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Perfect balance of softness and resilience—flies keep their shape cast after cast.
• Easy to work with, even for novice tyers.
• Excellent for both traditional streamers and modern hairwing salmon flies.

Best For:

• Smaller hairwing salmon patterns like the Black Bear Green Butt or Rusty Rat variations.

• Brook trout streamers where natural action is key but you don’t want a bulky silhouette.

Drawback:
Kid Goat can be slightly uneven in length depending on the patch. Sorting and pre-stacking helps achieve smoother wings.

Tying It All Together – Choosing the Right Goat for the Job