Fools Gold

The Shotgun crew arrives back at Straw Lake for another kick at the golden can. This time Todd has come prepared – camp is fixed up, machines are set up and ready to run, and new equipment is on its way. But when Matt and Mikey protest over having lower stakes in the gold operation, Todd is forced to do what it takes to keep the crew united and working together toward their 100-ounce goal... even if it means pitting them against each other in a gold-mining competition.

When a new and expensive piece of equipment known as "The Hammer Mill" arrives at Straw Lake, the crew is beside themselves with excitement – this machine will crush rocks into gold and make them all rich! But at Straw Lake equipment never does what it's supposed to, and soon they're once again doing everything by hand! The race is on to get everything back up and running in order to salvage the week and get some gold. Has the Shotgun crew failed before they even really got started?

After the team finally gets Todd's prized new hammer mill running, it breaks down, and the Shotgun crew is forced to pick up the slack in other areas of the operation. While Todd battles Roj over the merits of the dangerous and potentially illegal smelting process, the rest of the crew struggles to keep focused on stockpiling material for when their equipment is back online.

Todd is adding a night shift to boost the gold operation, and just needs a couple of volunteers. When nobody steps forward, Todd is forced to make an executive decision, that results in the operation being literally torn apart! Is this plan crazy-good, or just plain crazy?

With the gold flowing like molasses, Todd is ready to "sell the farm" to get the cash he needs to keep up with bills and ongoing expenses. After Roj assures Todd he can get operations running at a proper pace, it's up to him to motivate the crew in the face of cutbacks, faulty equipment, and low morale. When Todd reveals that his financial situation is worse than he originally led on and could land him in jail, Roj rallies the troops to get the gold flowing. Is Todd destined for the slammer, or can the Shotgun crew come through in the clutch?

Todd's heading out on a business trip, and after Mikey does a lame Todd impression for the crew, Todd makes Mikey the boss for a few days as a way of teaching him a lesson about what it means to be a boss. Unfortunately for Mikey, leading this crew is a little more than he bargained for – and when major problems arise he is forced to re-evaluate how he sees Todd. Will Mikey get the gold they need, or will he crash and burn?

Matt stumbles on an old assay furnace from the original mine as he clears up some scrap metal. Todd believes that it could contain gold – but first he has to get it out of the ground and get inside...a task that is easier said than done! When Todd suggests that they go looking for another piece of equipment that could also contain gold, Roj protests what he sees as a wild goose chase. Will Todd's instincts prevail? Or will Roj's logical thinking keep the crew on the straight and narrow?

Todd is contacted by a local journalist who wants to write a feature on him as a successful prospector / businessman. Todd sees this as a golden opportunity to get the word out there about the work they've been doing at Straw Lake – and maybe, just maybe attract the attention of a rich investor! But just before the journalist's visit to camp, the operation grinds to a halt when the equipment starts failing, and a wrecking ball rolls through camp. How can Todd show off the site with everything shut down? Can the Shotgun Crew get things back up and running in time to save Todd's reputation?

With their golden goal far from reach, Todd sets a new plan to go searching for trenches that could lead them to a gold vein. Todd's first mistake? He brings Matt along on the search, while the rest of the team takes a break from making gold to battle a major fire in camp! When Todd and Matt fail to come back from their trek, the team goes off in search of their missing comrades.

Todd's twin brother, Trevor, arrives at camp to collect money Todd owes him. Todd tries to play poor just as the crew reveals a significant gold vein in one of the trenches. With Todd's debt to his brother hanging over his head, he makes Trevor an unbelievable deal that can only be described as "Classic Todd". But the rest of the Shotgun crew isn't keen on sharing their gold with Trevor. It will be up to Todd to keep the crew motivated, and his brother out of the way.

As the season draws to a close the Fools drive hard to reach their target of 100oz. But while Todd chases the vein – he's served with a government notice that says he must do major work to the mine site in order to continue...and spend thousands of dollars that he doesn't have. To make matters worse, Matt makes a costly mistake with the hammer mill that brings the entire operation to a standstill. It will be up to Jimmy to solve the problem – but this time, Straw Lake's very own MacGyver doesn't even think he has what it takes to get them up and running again.

It's the final push for gold – will the Fool's hit their 100oz target – or has it all been for naught? Things get tense when a mystery investor comes out to the property – could Todd be ready to sell the mine? The entire Shotgun crew is worried about what the future holds for them because as Todd has told them all along – if they don't meet their target, they won't be coming back next year, and if he sells the property then it's the end of Straw Lake as they know it. Can the Shotgun crew get the gold and ride off into the sunset? Or, will everything they've worked towards over the past two years end up in some investor's pockets while Todd retires to a luxury condo in Winnipeg? Everything is revealed in this final episode of the season...of FOOL'S GOLD!