Ken suffers from mechanical difficulties. Bernie struggles with a rookie crew and Big Al has a great start.

On Sulphur Creek, young crew boss Karl has no sluice machine, and no sluice means no gold. Karl's father Marty, a highly respected self-made miner, builds a new one from scratch. While Karl waits, he struggles to keep his crew on task – and live up to his father's high expectations. Big Al tests new strategies – and new equipment – on a fresh claim. If only he could keep his machines running.

Karl must deal with mistakes his crew make and design flaws on the massive sluice his dad Marty built. Bernie packs it in at McDame and moves his operation, hoping his fortune is about to change.

With the weeks passing quickly, Ken and Guillaume's dreams of striking it big are starting to fade as they face continual equipment breakdowns and a crew member who goes AWOL. Bernie's decision to move to Snow Creek seems to be paying off, if only he can get his sons to step up and meet his expectations. Al McGregor's pay streak is threatened when he breaks a hitch trying to move his sluice.

While Guillaume Brodeur deals with moving their giant sluice, The Beast, Ken Foy must contend with a bigger challenge – a visit from his wife. Karl Knutson is shocked to learn just how quickly the season is passing, and with one water issue after another, his opportunity for a big payday is dwindling just as fast. A faulty clutch on Al McGregor’s sluice results in a shutdown; it’s a race to get it fixed and get back to work, even if it means working around the clock.

Ken and Guillaume try to reverse their bad luck by moving across Moose Creek. Bernie has to deal with mistakes made by his junior crew. And Karl’s night crew is starting to slow him down.

Cold weather threatens the miners' operations; Ken contemplates laying off half his crew; Karl's workers hunt moose after their sluice box ices over; Big Al battles beavers.

Ken uncovers a mother lode of gold after he changes the Beast's location; breakdowns threaten to bring an early end to Bernie's season; Big Al selects a final site for his sluice plant.

Ken uncovers a mother lode of gold after he changes the Beast's location; breakdowns threaten to bring an early end to Bernie's season; Big Al selects a final site for his sluice plant.

Snow threatens to bury Ken's pay dirt; Karl ignores his father's advice; Big Al deals with failing equipment and unhappy workers as his first season comes to an end.