Without getting too technical, I suspect backpack units have a lot less "oomph" on fish or humans than generator driven electroshock units on boats.
Good question whether Humans are more conductive than freshwater. IIRC blood salinity is pretty much the same as seawater, so conductivity from NaCl would be higher in bodies. I don't know what effect the other electrolytes in pondwater would have (calcium, for example), but mostly it's just too darn dangerous to take a chance.