In this edition of Guide Talk, we chat with Daniel Factor, owner of X-Factor Angling in South Africa. Known for his expertise in wild, remote fishing, Daniel recently landed four trophy GTs. We dive into the highlights of his trip and his passion for chasing these powerful fish

My name is Daniel Factor, and I am the owner of a company located in South Africa called X-Factor Angling. We operate a comprehensive guiding service throughout the country that specializes in wild, remote fishing for tigerfish and yellowfish. In addition, we have a fly shop and travel internationally to host clients at some of the finest fishing destinations around the world. I have also had the privilege of representing Team Fly Fishing South Africa for over a decade and have been fortunate enough to compete in ten World Fly Fishing Championships.

Daniel, congrats on bagging 4 trophy GTs on your last trip! Can you walk us through that experience—what were the highlights, and what made this trip so special?

I have completely fallen in love with hunting trophy GTs—so much so that I recently got one tattooed on my chest! I have had the privilege of fishing around the world but consistently find myself returning to the Alphonse group in the Seychelles. The key to this fishery is having an exceptional guiding team that understands the area; they are always the true heroes of the story. One highlight was the day my friends from the lodge joined me on the boat. Lara had never seen a meter GT before; we started with a 114 cm fish and ended with an enormous 124 cm catch.

On my first day, I was targeting a yellow margin while standing on a coral finger. As is often the case with these finicky fish, my cast was initially rejected. I stepped back into the skiff, and before I had the chance to put down my #9 rod, a giant fish surfaced next to the boat. In a split second, I switched from my #9 to my #12 rod. When the fish opened its mouth wide to inhale the fly time stopped to what felt like 10 minutes. After an intense fight, during which I had to unwrap lines from around the coral, a beautiful 118 cm GT finally came to the net.

GTs are known for their power and speed. What tactics or techniques did you rely on during your trip to handle these beasts on the fly?

I love to cast massive flies that create a lot of movement. I find that using large flies with significant action is crucial. The flies need to be so big that my arms feel sore from casting them for extended periods, making it difficult to hold utensils at dinner! The key is to fish them slowly, presenting them enticingly to the fish. Ideally, you should lead the fish as far ahead as possible so it remains unaware that the fly has landed. Allow the fly to sit dead still until the fish is about a rod's length away, then execute one long, slow strip, and the fish should inhale it. These larger fish are quite intelligent; the more time they have to think, the higher the chances of rejection. If the weather isn’t ideal, don’t hesitate to engage in some blind casting.

When you're targeting GTs, what’s your go-to gear setup in terms of rod, reel, and line to ensure you’re ready for a trophy catch?

I am a massive fan of the Shilton SR12—it offers incredible stopping power and, best of all, it never fails. I prefer to use Loomis NRX Plus or GLX rods; both have exceptional backbone. For my line, I use a 100 lb core SA Big Water taper, and an intermediate line when I'm not fishing on the sand. The intermediate line allows bigger flies to set quicker and prevents them from skipping on the first strip. Most importantly, I use a 150 lb leader! If a fish ventures near the coral, this gives us a glimmer of hope.