ok so i'm about to order my first fly blank and since i know absolutely nothing about fly rods i figured i'd ask and see who likes what guides and why do some folks go for snake guides while others use ring guides

oh also this is gonna be for fishing the bays for trout and redfish so any suggestions on reel seats that won't bind up and corrode like nickle or aluminum seats do?

My vote would be for ceramic guides, Fuji Alconite. You will appreciate the difference when making those long casts for reds. Batson makes a nice series of anodized reel seats that are economical and reliable.

aluminum reel seats are usually used to prevent corrosion, or at least minimize it, with proper care/rinsing afterwards. at least from what i've gathered.

eric
fresno, ca.

Go with ceramic guides, not wire snakes. You'll be much happier in the long run. If you're on a budget, Fuji Alconites are really hard to beat. About the only thing better is Fuji Titanium/SiC guides, but they're really pricey.

On the reel seat, just use a Fuji spinning seat. You can go really basic, with the DPS seat, OR, you can turn a fancy wood insert (or have one turned for you), with the SKM seat.