8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report
(Date of earliest
event reported): April 29, 2004

Johnson Outdoors Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Wisconsin	0-16255	39-1536083
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

555 Main Street, Racine, Wisconsin 53403

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(262) 631–6600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Item 7.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.
	(a)	Not applicable.
	(b)	Not applicable.
	(c)	Exhibits. The following exhibit is being furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K (this "Report"):
		99	Press Release dated April 29, 2004.
Item 12.	Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
	On April 29, 2004, Johnson Outdoors Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing the Company's second quarter 2004 results (the "Press Release"). A copy of the Press Release is being furnished as Exhibit 99 to this Report.

SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:  April 29, 2004

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
By:	/s/  Paul A. Lehmann
Its:	Paul A. Lehmann Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.

Exhibit Index to
Current Report on Form 8-K Dated April 29, 2004

Exhibit Number
99	Press Release dated April 29, 2004.

EX-99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AT JOHNSON OUTDOORS:
Paul A. Lehmann Chief Financial Officer 262-631-6600	Cynthia Georgeson Corporate Communication 262-631-6600	Leslie Loyet Financial Relations Board 312-640-6672

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. REPORTS
SECOND-QUARTER 2004 RESULTS

Racine, Wisconsin, April 29, 2004…….Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT) today announced increased net sales, operating profits and earnings for the fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2004. Gains were attributable to continued strong top-line and bottom-line performances in fiscal 2004 by the Motors and Outdoor Equipment Group segments. Continued unusually high volume in military sales accounted for the reported growth in Outdoor Equipment. Diving benefited from favorable currency exchange which added to a modest sales increase, and minimized a slide in that segment’s profitability. Watercraft operations posted losses for the third consecutive reporting period.

Total net sales for the second quarter were $95.6 million, a 14.8% increase over the same quarter last year due to significant revenue gains in the Motors and Outdoor Equipment segments. New product performance and channel growth across all sectors drove increased sales in Motors, while Military sales grew 54.3% versus the same period last year resulting in the reported gains in Outdoor Equipment. Operating profit for the quarter grew 41.8% compared with the prior year ($8.7 million versus $6.1 million respectively) driven by double-digit profit growth in Motors (75.0%) and Outdoor Equipment (46.5%). Profit sagged in the Diving segment (down 2.9% versus the prior year) and Watercraft posted an operating loss for the third consecutive reporting period (-$2.1 million). Net income in the second quarter was $4.8 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.55) compared with $4.3 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.50) in the prior year period.

“Consumer response is the truest measure of the health of our markets, and whether we have turned consumer insight into winning products. We will get a clear picture of both in the consumer retail season which kicks into high gear in the third quarter” said Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We have good momentum heading into this important period; however, two businesses continue to face challenges. Diving is struggling with a soft market where the pace of recovery is uncertain; and, investments in Watercraft have yet to benefit the bottom-line. Portfolio diversity is a key asset, and more focus is needed to ensure greater consistency and balance in profitability across our businesses.”

Year-To-Date
Total net sales for the first six months of 2004 were $158.5 million, up 14.7% versus the prior year's six-month period. Operating profit was $10.0 million, a 59.5% increase over the same six-months last year. Net income year to date was $5.0 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.57) compared with $4.0 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.47) in the prior period.

Financial Highlights
The Company reported debt-to-total-capital of 30.3% reflecting a six percentage point improvement from a year ago. The increase in accounts receivable ($9.1 million) was the result of higher sales and a favorable currency impact of $2.5 million. The build in working capital and inventory levels was consistent with the period leading into the Company’s third fiscal quarter peak selling season. Gross profit grew in large part due to successful new product introductions and efficiency improvements.

“On the balance sheet, things remain positive,” commented Paul Lehmann, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Working capital has peaked, so cash balances should begin to build over the remainder of the year, and our debt ratio has dropped to the lowest level in our history.”

Webcast

Johnson Outdoors will hold its quarterly conference call on April 29, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be webcast at www.johnsonoutdoors.com and www.fulldisclosure.com.  A replay will be available on both web sites for at least 30 days, and by telephone through May 6, 2004 by dialing 877-519-4471 or 973-341-3080 and providing confirmation code 4718325. 

About Johnson Outdoors Inc.

Johnson Outdoors is a leading global outdoor recreation company that turns ideas into adventure with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Motors, Diving and Outdoor Equipment. Johnson Outdoors’ familiar brands include, among others: Old Town® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak™, Necky® and Dimension® kayaks; Minn Kota® motors; SCUBAPRO® and SnorkelPro; UWATEC® dive equipment; and, Eureka!® tents. The company has 24 locations around the world, employs 1,400 people and reported annual sales of $315.9 million in 2003.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements,” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated.  Factors that could affect actual results or outcomes include changes in consumer spending patterns; the Company’s success in implementing its strategic plan, including its focus on innovation; actions of companies that compete with the Company; the Company’s success in managing inventory; movements in foreign currencies or interest rates; unanticipated issues related to the Company’s military tent business; the success of suppliers and customers; the ability of the Company to deploy its capital successfully; unanticipated outcomes related to outstanding litigation matters; and adverse weather conditions.  Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

— Financial Tables Follow –

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(thousands, except per share amounts)
	THREE MONTHS ENDED						SIX MONTHS ENDED
	April 2 2004			March 28 2003			April 2 2004			March 28 2003
Operating Results
Net sales	$	95,595		$	83,265		$	158,536		$	138,160
Cost of sales		53,316			47,072			89,287			78,284
Gross profit		42,279			36,193			69,249			59,876
Operating expenses		33,593			30,069			59,218			53,586
Operating profit		8,686			6,124			10,031			6,290
Interest expense, net		980			1,114			2,184			2,132
Other (income) expense, net		68			(2,115	)		(53	)		(2,471	)
Income before income taxes		7,638			7,125			7,900			6,629
Income tax expense		2,842			2,828			2,944			2,612
Net income	$	4,796		$	4,297		$	4,956		$	4,017
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.56		$	0.51		$	0.58		$	0.48
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.55		$	0.50		$	0.57		$	0.47
Diluted average common shares outstanding		8,766			8,561			8,732			8,525
Segment Results
Net sales:
Motors	$	31,883		$	27,331		$	49,892		$	42,337
Outdoor equipment		24,170			18,820			39,972			30,710
Watercraft		19,693			19,949			32,133			31,858
Diving		20,048			17,686			36,990			34,161
Other/eliminations		(199	)		(521	)		(451	)		(906	)
Total	$	95,595		$	83,265		$	158,536		$	138,160
Operating profit (loss):
Motors	$	7,517		$	4,296		$	10,556		$	5,873
Outdoor equipment		4,451			3,038			6,932			4,440
Watercraft		(2,062	)		(1,111	)		(5,573	)		(3,040	)
Diving		3,065			3,157			4,750			5,183
Other/eliminations		(4,285	)		(3,256	)		(6,634	)		(6,166	)
Total	$	8,686		$	6,124		$	10,031		$	6,290
Balance Sheet Information (End of Period)
Cash and short-term investments							$	36,241		$	44,821
Accounts receivable, net								80,646			71,520
Inventories, net								67,746			62,655
Total current assets								198,608			190,226
Total assets								281,410			271,293
Short-term debt								15,755			9,538
Total current liabilities								69,329			61,010
Long-term debt								51,365			68,488
Shareholders' equity								154,087			136,196