Bass lie weird with scales down (7)

I believe the answer is:

abseils

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'scales down' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'bass lie weird' is the wordplay.
'weird' is an anagram indicator.
'bass'+'lie'='basslie'
'basslie' anagrammed gives 'ABSEILS'.

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abseils that I've seen before include "Descends by rope" , "goes down steeply" , "Climbs down attached to a rope" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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