Dipping a tail has helped with the bite many times for me which makes me wonder; has it ever SLOWED THE BITE DOWN for anyone?

Nope...I dip from Mar - Aug

I've never been able to tell a difference in bites when I dip and when I don't dip.

I don't catch fish (they don't like me) so I just do it when i feel like it for my own personal preference

I have pretty much proven it helps in April, May and June. Back seat with dye outfished front seat with no dye significantly many times. Caused numerous conversions. I have never known it to slow the bite down but I think it could in clear water.

My son spilled a container of it in my new Basscat. That messed the bite up for him significantly. Luckily, it fades fast.

I use the pens for this very reason

So does it work

Exactly

If you think it works then it works, that's about as close a guess as you are gonna get.

Look at a bream's tail in a clear pond or lake and you will see why the dye works...

I prefer the spray for this reason. It dries before it every lands on anything

Always seems to help not hinder. However, a pen performs a bit more precise for me. At times a bottle of dye makes the job easier when dipping large quantities of brush hog tails for instance. My experience is that it can be overdone. Nowadays these products are smaller than what I have been used to. You might order 2 if you are in the market for dyes. The only times it slows down the bite for me is when biting into my sandwich for lunch out on the boat. That garlic scent on your hands can be a bit overwhelming!

When I lived in broken bow we dipped every brush hog, fluke, and trick worm. I lived in west Texas for the last 15 years and never dipped. It’s not a thing out here but sure is on broken bow.

Try dipping the head instead.