Catcher in novel also first for Salinger (5)
I believe the answer is:
lasso
'catcher' is the definition.
(rope used to catch an animal)
'novel also first for salinger' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates an anagram (letters in a new or novel order).
'first for' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'salinger' is 's'.
'also'+'s'='alsos'
'alsos' with letters rearranged gives 'LASSO'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for lasso that I've seen before include "Cow catcher" , "Rope with 20" , "A cowboy's rope with a running noose" , "Somehow catch" , "snare" .)