In Episode 33 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, host Mike Agneta is joined by Tenkara Angler panelists Matt Sment and Bill Robichaud to welcome one of tenkara’s most respected voices, Robert Worthing of Tenkara Guides, LLC. Rob has just released his long-awaited book, Demon’s Game: The Oni School of Tenkara Fly Fishing, and the conversation digs deep into the philosophy, science, and advanced technique behind this landmark release.
Rob has spent 10+ years studying under Masami Sakakibara who is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest tenkara masters, and has guided clients on the Provo River and beyond through the Oni Tenkara School. Demon’s Game is his effort to preserve Masami’s legacy and bring the most advanced tenkara concepts into print for English-speaking anglers for the first time.
Whether you’re picking up a tenkara rod for the first time or you’ve been fishing fixed line for years, this episode and Rob’s book will give you new ways to see the water, understand the fish, and elevate your game. We hope you enjoy this latest episode!
Episode Show Notes & Links:
00:00:07 – Introduction & Welcome
00:01:03 – Meet Rob Worthing: Background & Tenkara Guides LLC
– Tenkara Guides, LLC
– Advanced Tenkara Clinic
00:03:06 – What Is Demon’s Game & Why This Book?
00:05:13 – How Rob First Met Masami Sakakibara
– About Masami Sakakibara
00:06:55 – The Birth of the Oni Tenkara School
00:08:07 – Early “Aha Moments” Watching Masami Fish
00:11:42 – Inside the Book: Structure, Science & Philosophy
00:14:05 – How the Book Serves as an Oni School Syllabus
00:18:30 – Tenkara Flies: Matching the Hatch, Oni Style
00:23:24 – Trout Vision & the Science of How Fish See
00:26:21 – Trout Senses Beyond Sight: Sound, Shadow & Stealth
00:29:11 – Is This Book for Beginners or Advanced Anglers?
00:31:11 – The Philosophy of Lifelong Learning in Tenkara
00:34:04 – Bill’s Story: Putting Oni Techniques to the Test on the Stream
00:36:34 – Rob’s Story: An Real World Application of Stealth
00:39:39 – Hydrology and the Movement of Water
00:44:39 – Tracer Flies for Visibility and Manipulation
00:46:32 – The Book vs. Oni School
00:50:15 – Gear Talk: Rods, Lines, Flies & Fishing Oni Style
– Tenkara no Oni Shop
00:55:31 – Future Oni Schools & Where to Find Rob in 2026
00:58:53 – Where to Buy Demon’s Game
– Kendall Hunt | Amazon
01:00:26 – Closing Thoughts & Sign-Off
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
