Tangled laces can be a bit fishy! (5)
I believe the answer is:
scale
'be a bit fishy' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'tangled laces' is the wordplay.
'tangled' indicates anagramming the letters.
'laces' with letters rearranged gives 'SCALE'.
'can' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scale that I've seen before include "Alec's (anag) -- graduation" , "Measure" , "Hierarchy" , "Ratio of, say, map to reality" , "Climb; flake of skin" .)